World Bank Gives India $1 Billion Emergency Fund to Fight Coronavirus

The Coronavirus outbreak has been in the news ever since its effects in Wuhan, China. Since then it has spread across the world and has crossed 1,274,022 reported cases worldwide so far. The spread has been a cause of concern for citizens as well as the governing bodies worldwide.

On April 2, 2020, the World Bank declared providing emergency funds to aid the global financial meltdown. It approved $1 billion emergency financing for India. Out of $12 billion initial immediate relief, the largest chunk of emergency fund assistance was given to India. This comes after the aftermath of 2000 reported cases of Covid-19.

World Bank has pledged to provide $160 Billion to aid Covid-19 cases worldwide over the next 15 months.

The Focus Behind the Emergency Fund

1. Economic Sector

The World Bank aims to help countries deal with the pandemic by focusing on the health sector and Economic Recovery. It aims at helping the economies to create favourable growth conditions, aid recovery time and support small and medium companies. Furthermore, it aims at focusing to elevate the conditions of the vulnerable and poor.

2. Health Sector

It also aims at helping India fund better screening for Covid-19, contact tracing and laboratory diagnostics. Personal protective equipment in the medical sector is struggling and the fund aims to help that. Setting up of isolation wards is another major motive.

Assistance to Other Countries

1. The Pacific and East Asia

The World Bank will provide $26.9 million to Mongolia for training emergency care doctors, nurses and paramedics. It will help in purchasing medical and laboratory equipment and supplies.

Cambodia will be given $20 million to help set up isolation and treatment centres and medical testing supplies.

2. Africa

Ethiopia will get $82 million for medical equipment, health system capacity building and setting of treatment centres.The Democratic Republic of Congo will get $47 million to provide support for medical staff and Covid-19 detection centres along with contact tracing.

3. Europe and Central Asia

Tajikistan will get $11.3 million for intensive care medical supplies and training for medical personnel. Most vulnerable households will get temporary social assistance. Kyrgyz Republic will get $12.15 million for the setting of the team for rapid response, laboratories, medical supplies, ICU equipment and hospital funds.

4. North Africa and the Middle East

Yemen will get a $26.9 million to help with tackling Covid-19 while Djibouti will get $5 million grant to strengthen health systems.

5. Latin America and the Caribbean

Haiti will get $20 million to help tackle the virus. Medical facilities and patient care will be given special attention. Ecuador will get $20 million for intensive care units and isolation rooms. The support also aims to aid the national communication system with regards to dissemination of protection and care messages.

6. South Asia

Afghanistan will get $100 million to support isolation wards, medical supplies and intensive care. Pakistan will get $200 million to help the poor and vulnerable access to medical facilities and stay safe.

Number of Coronavirus Cases Across Worldwide

The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide has crossed 1 million. According to the data published by John Hopkins CSSE on April 3, 2020, the U.S. is the most affected countries around the world with 236,339 reported cases. It is followed by Italy at 115,242, Spain at 110,238, Germany at 84,600, China at 82,432, France at 59,929, Iran at 50,468, the United Kingdom at 31,164, Switzerland at 18,827 and Turkey at 18,135.

Conclusion

The World Health Organization (WHO) has applauded India for its efforts tackling Covid-19. The Government of India has requested people to stay in quarantine to maintain social distancing. Maharashtra is the highest affected state in India.