$ 128.6 m from World Bank for SL battle against COVID-19

• Funds to be mobilised through Budgets from 2020-2023
• Project to focus on limiting local transmission, improvising emergency response, and increasing capacity
• IDH and MRI to also be improved

The International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank Group yesterday agreed to provide financing assistance amounting to $ 128.6 million to the Sri Lankan effort to battle the COVID-19 outbreak, the organisation said in a statement. 

These funds will be mobilised through the Government Budget during the period from 2020 to 2023. 

Signing of the agreements of Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project took place yesterday at the Ministry of Finance and Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle and World Bank Country Director Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough signed the agreements on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank, respectively.

In response to the increasing COVID-19 incidences in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka has initiated urgent and effective measures to slow the spread of the virus by testing and treating patients, contact tracing of those found positive, limiting travel, mandatory quarantine for anyone coming from countries affected by COVID-19, closing borders to prevent transmission from further travellers, cancelling large gatherings, and creating awareness. 

The project will focus on limiting local transmission of COVID-19 by strengthening capacities of the health system for contact tracing, case finding, confirmation, reporting, and responding to surge capacity through trained and well-equipped health workers and medical officers of health and primary health doctors and equipped facilities, strengthening surveillance and response systems, strengthening healthcare facilities capacity for emergency response, improving community engagement and risk communication, and provision of social and financial support to households. 

Further, the project will support national and sub-national institutions for prevention and preparedness through strengthening the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), establishment and strengthening of subnational emergency operation centres, establishment of Bio-Safety Level (BSL) 3 laboratory facilities at the National Medical Research Institute (MRI), and strengthening laboratory facilities and information systems.