ADB approves $3m grant to Bangladesh to fight Covid-19

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Bangladesh with an additional $3 million in grant assistance for procuring urgently needed medical supplies for an emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ADB approved the grant assistance on Thursday, according to a press release.

The government of Japan is financing the grant assistance sourced from the ADB-administered Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund. 

ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash said the assistance would help to alleviate the government's urgent financial, logistical, and other constraints to meet immediate needs and deliver appropriate medical services.

"The grant will finance the procurement of essential medicines, medical equipment, and infection control supplies required for Covid-19 emergency response. The ADB is committed to supporting Bangladesh to minimise the health and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and help to accelerate the post-pandemic socio-economic recovery of the country," he added. 

The new assistance builds on ADB's previous support of around $603 million in loans and grants to contain and mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. 

The ADB on May 7 this year approved $500 million loan to bolster the efforts of the Bangladesh government to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the country's economy and the public health. 

Earlier on April 30, the bank approved a $100 million concessional emergency loan to support Bangladesh's efforts to address the immediate public health requirements of combatting the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ADB also 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 programme.

In addition, $231,178 in grant was provided to augment Covid-19-related facilities in 134 urban primary healthcare centres, also called Nagar Swastho Kendra, across the country.

Since February, ADB's emergency assistance grants to its developing members have helped to ensure the supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment. 

In April, the ADB announced a $20 billion comprehensive response package to help its developing member countries address the immediate and long-term macroeconomic and health impacts of Covid-19 in the region.