World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Provide Technical and Financial Assistance to Prevent COVID-19 Outbreak in Afghanistan
On March 08, 2020 H.E. Prof. Mohammad HumayonQayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure Affairs to H.E. the President, chaired a meeting about preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Deputy Minister of Health, CEOs of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Head of Afghanistan Medical Council also attended this meeting. At the beginning, the DM of Health briefed the participants on COVID 19; identifying affected people and controlling the country’s western borders. He added that the Ministry of Public Health has taken necessary measures to test and control people who enter Afghanistan through borders and Hamid Karzai International Airport.The Deputy Minister of Public Health asserted that they are ready to diagnosis patients in Kabul and Herat; and the MoPHhas prepared a 20 bed facility in most of the provinces in the country.
In the meeting, the Acting Minister of Finance emphasized that the rise in the casualties of COVID-19 in Iran is distressing; and we should focus on the percentage of affected Afghans returning from Iran these days. Practically, the citizens returning from Iran should be quarantined in a center far from the city until they are tested and diagnosed.
Meanwhile, the World Bank pledged to provide technical and financial assistance, when necessary. Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) pledged to provide technical and financial support for Afghanistan to raise awareness. The Acting Minister of Finance said that within the available financial capabilities, we are ready to provide help in this area when needed.
It was agreed upon that the Ministry of Public Health provide apackage of necessities to combat COVID-19 to World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding. Likewise the Ministry of Public Health will inform people through district councils, provincial councils, mosque imams, social media, television and radio.
At the end, it was stressed to hold a follow-up meeting next week.
