The World Bank Board of Directors on Friday approved a $114.28 million financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with a specific focus on state level responses.
The intervention includes $100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and $14.28 million grant from the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility.
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, said: “Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, but more needs to done at the state level, which are at the frontline of the response. The project will provide the states with much needed direct technical and fiscal support to strengthen their position in combating the pandemic.”
Through the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP), the federal government will provide grants to 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as immediate support to break the chain of COVID-19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies.
READ ALSO: COVID19: India Infections Hits 2million,Health Workers Down Tools
According to a statement from the Bretton Woods Institution, grants to states will be conditional on states adopting COVID-19 response strategies which are in line with the Federal Government guidelines and strategies.
CoPREP will enhance the institutional and operational capacity for disease detection through provision of technical expertise, coordination support, detection, diagnosis and case management efforts in all states and the FCT as per the WHO guidelines in the Strategic Response Plan.The support will also help the government mobilise surge response capacity through trained and well-equipped frontline healthcare workers and strengthen the public health care network for future health emergencies.
