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World Bank provides US$7.5M to support Guyana’s COVID-19 response

Published:Thursday | November 26, 2020 | 10:18 AM
The Washington-based financial institution says it is working with member countries in the Caribbean to help them respond to COVID-19 and prepare for a resilient recovery - Contributed photo.

WASHINGTON, CMC – The World Bank on Wednesday approved US$7.5 million for Guyana’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project to support the country’s fight against the pandemic and to strengthen its health system.

“The World Bank is working with member countries in the Caribbean to help them respond to COVID-19 and prepare for a resilient recovery. This financing for Guyana will help the country tackle the current crisis and handle future emergencies,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. 

“The project will strengthen care for COVID-19 patients, improve the country’s ability to identify positive cases and enhance the health system’s capacity to deliver critical care to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and people with chronic conditions,” Sayed added. 

The Washington-based financial institution said the Guyana COVID-19 Emergency Response Project will strengthen laboratory capacity, support screening and surveillance, improve contact tracing, and equip healthcare facilities for more effective treatment and care of COVID-19 patients. 

The project will also include activities specifically targeted to reach local communities across the country and in the hinterland regions through the expansion of contact tracing and psychosocial support to vulnerable households, the World Bank said. 

It said risk communication materials will be translated into local languages “to ensure that vulnerable groups have access to reliable information about the virus and its spread.” 

In addition, the World Bank said the project will contribute to preparing the health system for “the effective deployment of a safe and approved COVID-19 vaccine.”

In late July 2020, Guyana also benefited from a US$1 million grant through the World Bank-administered Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility, which was disbursed to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

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