The World Bank has committed $60m (Sh6.2b) to support the country in combating the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
The committed funds are expected to help Kenya enhance surveillance, laboratory services, equipment, isolation units, and communication and strengthen multi-sector platforms, mobilize response capacity as well as help in monitoring and evaluating prevention and preparedness.
According to Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank country director for Kenya, the international institution has committed Sh6.2 billion to support the Government of Kenya’s response to COVID-19: Sh5.19 billion from COVID-19 financing facility, while Sh1.04 billion is triggered under contingency emergency response component of transforming health systems for universal care project.
The World Bank expects with this assistance the countries will enhance their disease detection capacities and ensure they have well trained and well-equipped front-line health workers. The global institution is on a mission to assist as many countries as it can to cope with the pandemic by accelerating their response to manage the coronavirus.