World Bank Headquaters
Given the threat posed by Coronavirus, COVID-19, the World Bank board of directors has approved the sum of $114.28 million to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat.
According to a statement issued by the bank, the fund is aimed at helping Nigeria to boost states capability for COVID-19 response.
PUNCH reported that the fund includes $100m credit from the International Development Association and $14.28m grant from the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility.
The government of Nigeria is expected to provide grants to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through the COVID-19 preparedness and response project (CoPREP).
It was gathered that the grants are aimed at providing immediate support to break the chain of COVID-19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies.
Also, the bank stated that grants to states would be conditional on states adopting COVID-19 response strategies which were in line with the Federal Government guidelines and strategies.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri said the bank would also help the government mobilise such response capacity through trained and well-equipped frontline healthcare workers.
It will also strengthen the public health care network for future health emergencies.
Chaudhuri, who noted that Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the COVID -19 outbreak, further stated that more needs to be done at the state level, which is at the frontline of the response.
Shubham said, the Wold Bank project would finance federal procurements of medical equipment, laboratory tests, and medicines to be distributed to the states based on their needs.