Colombo, March 13 – The Asian Development Bank has given a 600,000 US dollar grant (109 million rupees) to a network of hospital designated to treat Coronavirus (COVID19) patients in the island.
The grant will be used for disease surveillance and to get medical supplies at equipment for the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Mulleriyaway and 17 other hospitals around the country where suspected cases are taken to.
“ADB has a track record of providing rapid and targeted support to the country in times of emergencies,” ADB’s Social Development Officer in Sri Lanka Herathbanda Jayasundara said in a statement.
“We are in constant contact with the Ministry of Health and all related development partners and stand ready to provide assistance as required.”
Protective equipment will also be supplied to Sri Lanka’s Medical Research Institute.
Some funds will also go to renovate and refurbish the Port Health Office and isolation rooms at both the Colombo and Trincomalee ports of entry, and to renovate isolation facilities of the Epidemiology Unit of the Infectious Diseases Hospital.
In addition, laboratory facilities and equipment to test high-risk samples will be funded under the medium-term plan of the government. ADB had already handed over about two million rupees of equipment.
The first batch of supplies, worth 2 million rupees ($11,250), was handed over to the relevant institutions on 13 March 2020.
(EconomyNext)