Uzbekistan to receive World Bank financing to combat coronavirus
The World Bank has approved a $95 million financing package to support Uzbekistan’s immediate response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of its citizens.
The World Bank has approved a $95 million financing package to support Uzbekistan’s immediate response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of its citizens, the Ministry of Finance reports.
The financing will be used to strengthen life-saving medical systems, as well as to provide income support to poor and vulnerable people affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic.
World Bank Country Manager for Uzbekistan, Hideki Mori, noted that this assistance is part of a package put together by a coalition of development partners to help protect the people of Uzbekistan against the threats of COVID-19. “The Government, World Health Organization (WHO), other UN agencies, international finance institutions including the World Bank Group, bilateral aid agencies, and non-governmental organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), are all standing together to support the country during this difficult time”.
About $38 million will be used to strengthen the capacity of the national health system in areas like disease surveillance, testing, equipment, and facilities for the treatment of critically ill patients, including ventilators and Intensive Care Units.
The remaining $57 million will help the Government extend the program of low-income family allowances and provide one-off unemployment benefits.