The African Development Fund (ADF) approved on Friday, a 69 million U.S. dollars financing support for Ghana’s response to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, a release has said.
The grant approved by the Board of Directors of ADF, the concessional arm of continental lender African Development Bank (AfDB) will help to upgrade the capacity of healthcare facilities to isolate, diagnose and care for patients in Ghana.
Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the bank’s Director-General for West Africa said the objectives of the grant were to help “contain the spread of the virus, expand testing and ease the impact of the virus on social and economic life, through measures aimed at protecting jobs, sustaining livelihoods and supporting small businesses.”
The statement added that through the financing, Ghana would be able to provide more test kits, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and beds, in addition to ensuring adequate personal protective equipment for health workers and supporting financial incentives, including an insurance package for health and allied professionals.
With a total of 30,366 confirmed infections, 26,687 recoveries, and 153 deaths on Friday, the West African nation ranks fourth in COVID-19 cases in Africa, after South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria.