Zimbabwe gets $13.7 million AfDB grant for health workers

African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina speaks to press after a meeting of the board in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

Zimbabwe will get 13.7 million U.S. dollars from the African Development Bank (AfDB) specifically targeted at frontline personnel in the fight against COVID-19 and directly assist more than 680,000 people.

A statement from the AfDB on Friday said the approval was made on May 13 after a request from the Zimbabwean government.

"The African Development Bank has approved a 13.7 million dollar grant to finance the COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe. The funds will provide an immediate lifeline for targeted frontline responders and health personnel and boost the country's Global Health Security Index in the wake of the novel Coronavirus pandemic,”the bank said.

The funds will go to Zimbabwe's COVID-19 Response Project (CRP), which aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a country facing many economic and social challenges, the statement said.

"The CRP will focus on 15 high-density urban suburbs in Harare, the capital, satellite townships and targeted health facilities in other areas of the country,”the AfDB said.

"Activities under the project include boosting capacity in COVID-19 prevention and management protocols for healthcare personnel and populations in targeted regions, and increasing access to COVID-19 hand-washing facilities in Harare, satellite townships and other affected regions,” the statement said.

The project will also supply COVID-19 medical equipment and laboratory test kits, personal protective equipment; set up hand-washing facilities through rehabilitation and construction of boreholes; and training of healthcare personnel and laboratory technicians at community level on COVID-19 prevention and case management protocols.

The project will be implemented by the World Health Organization, with the Ministry of Health and Child Care acting as executing agency, it said.

"It will leverage on planned activities to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the health system, while protecting the livelihoods of the vulnerable population in Zimbabwe beyond the end of the pandemic,” the bank said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency