The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $231,178 grant to boost novel coronavirus disease related facilities in 134 urban primary health centres, also called Nogor Swastho Kendro, around the country.
The health centres are providing primary healthcare services to the urban poor under the ADB-supported Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project in nine city corporations and four municipalities, said a press release.
Country Director Manmohan Parkash in this regard said, “It’s our pleasure to provide this grant support to further strengthen government’s efforts in managing the current pandemic and delivering related services to the people”.
“This initiative will be a model of providing both Covid and non-Covid-related healthcare services for over 8 million urban poor through Nogor Swastho Kendro in Bangladesh and the program might create awareness about Covid-19 prevention and management and help the health workers and doctors to detect and treat patients early,” added Parkash.
This assistance will help set up hand washing stations and screening booths, provide WHO standard personal protective equipment (PPE) suits to about 2,700 doctors and health workers working under the project and training on Covid-19 detection and treatment will be provided to health workers and doctors as well.
On 30 April, ADB approved a $100 million concessional loan to support the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to address the immediate public health requirements of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ADB had released a $350,000 emergency grant for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, and $1.3 million from an existing project to provide one-time cash support to 22,619 trainees to enable them to continue their ongoing skills training program.
Moreover, ADB has a strong track record of responding rapidly to provide targeted support to Bangladesh in times of emergencies. On 7 May, ADB approved $500 million to strengthen Bangladesh’s efforts to mitigate the socio-economic impact of Covid-19.
Note that the grant assistance is sourced from ADB’s Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund, under the Urban Financing Partnership Facility.
