ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday signed a $2 million grant agreement to strengthen Pakistan's efforts to combat the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed and ADB Country Director for Pakistan, Xiaohong Yang, signed the agreement.
The grant, financed from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, will help provide life-saving medical supplies, diagnostic and laboratory facilities, and other critical equipment for communities affected by the pandemic.
Further, the grant will be used to build resilience and capacity of front-line health workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by providing (i) personal protective and waste management (biosafety) equipment to front-line health workers; (ii) testing kits and diagnostic reagents; (iii) air purifying respirators; and (iv) laboratory and general medical supplies.
Yang and Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in Pakistan Aida Girma signed the administrative agreement, which will enable the Unicef to procure the supplies and equipment using the grant.
The ADB country director reaffirmed the bank's support for the government's development vision and people-centric growth policies, especially in light of growing uncertainties in a post Covid-19 scenario.
"ADB continues to work closely with the government of Pakistan and development partners to assist Pakistan in sustaining the gains made in combating the pandemic," said Xiaohong Yang.
The grant to be administered through the Unicef will help strengthen Pakistan's response to the Covid-19 challenge.
Pakistan needs to maintain its strong efforts to contain the pandemic through robust prevention and control measures as well as by ensuring the provision of essential medical and emergency healthcare facilities, considering the recent increase in the infection rates.
The country director, ADB, also reiterated the bank's strong commitment to further strengthening and expanding its long-standing partnership with Pakistan.
The secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, appreciated the ADB for a remarkable role in supporting the Government of Pakistan's targeted efforts towards mitigating the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 by providing an Emergency Assistance Loan of $300 million in the first phase, and a grant of $2 million for building the capacity and resilience of the health sector in the second phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Unicef has been at the forefront supporting the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in the country, said UNICEF Representative in Pakistan," Aida Girma.
"More specifically, Unicef has supported the national response in risk communication and community engagement by ensuring timely and accurate information to families and communities and promoting positive behaviour to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and procured life-saving medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). We have also endeavoured to ensure continuation of essential services including immunization and health, nutrition, education, child protection and water, sanitation and hygiene. We appreciate the Asian Development Bank's continued and generous financial support to UNICEF's response to the Covid-19 pandemic," Aida Girma added.
The grant supplements an initial $500,000 provided by the ADB through the Unicef to support Pakistan's procurement of emergency supplies and personal protective equipment.
These have been delivered to doctors, nurses, and other medical staff in major health facilities prioritised by the government.
In April, the ADB reallocated $30 million from the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) to support Pakistan's pandemic response.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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