Harare (New Ziana)-The African Development Bank has approved a US$13.7 million grant to assist Zimbabwe in its fight against Covid-19, the bank said on Friday.

In a statement, the bank said the grant was offered following a request by the government.

“The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a $13.7 million 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.
“Approval for the grant was made on May 13, after a request from the Zimbabwe Government,” it said.

The Afdb said the funds, from the African Development Fund (ADF) 14 Transition Support Facility, would go to Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 Response Project (CRP), which aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country.

“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.

“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,” said the bank.

The project is expected to also supply COVID-19 medical equipment and laboratory test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs); 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, which will be implemented by the World Health Organization, with the country’s Ministry of Health and Child Care acting as executing agency, is expected to directly benefit over 680,000 people.

“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,” said the Afdb.

In spite of the global Covid-19 pandemic, the US and other Western countries have refused to lift their illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, imposed in retaliation against the country’s land reforms.

The sanctions have adversely hampered the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the country, like others across the globe, is nonetheless responding to the pandemic with a raft of measures, including restricting movement of people and ordering social distancing in public places like shopping malls and public transport.

As of Friday, Zimbabwe had 38 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including 12 recoveries and four deaths.

New Ziana