African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors approved a $13.7 million grant to finance COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe including frontline responders and health personnel.
The funds will go to Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 Response Project (CRP), which aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” AFDB says.
“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.”
CRP project will supply COVID-19 medical equipment and laboratory test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs); set up handwashing facilities through rehabilitation/construction of boreholes; and training of healthcare personnel and laboratory technicians at the 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,” the financier says.
“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.”
Fears have been raised that more people may lose lives if no aid is given to Zimbabwe to manage the effects of COVID-19.
Zimbabwe has witnessed economic activities coming into a halt as the country enforced a lockdown. Such is likely to result in survival challenges for the already struggling companies.
The country’s informal sector, which produces the majority of the jobs remain closed risking the lives of citizens to hunger.
