The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional USD 1 million grant to Maldives from its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) to further support emergency response of the Maldives to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press statement released on July 20, ADB stated the grant, which is financed by the government of Japan, will help alleviate financial, logistical, and other constraints faced by the Maldives amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ADB stated the grant is to be used to purchase essential medical supplies such as test kits and reagents, personal protective equipment (PPE), laboratory equipment, and other medical goods and supplies. In addition, ADB stated the grant will also be used for the salary and transportation allowance of health workers, laboratory experts, and other front liners, as well as for the recruitment of additional medical professionals.
In the press statement, ADB affirmed commitment to supporting the Maldives in responding to the needs of the country amid the crisis, adding the support of ADB will help the country improve its emergency response with the resources and expertise that are needed to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihood of the people of the Maldives.
On June 25, ADB approved a USD 50 million budget support package for Maldives comprising a USD 25 million grant and a USD 25 million concessional loan. ADB has separately approved grants of USD 500,000 from the APDRF and USD 798,000 from the Technical Assistance for Regional Support to Address the Outbreak of COVID-19 and Potential Outbreaks of Other Communicable Diseases for Maldives. These grants have funded the purchase of urgently needed PPEs to enable medical personnel to safely treat infected patients, as well as medical equipment to be installed in health facilities.
Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 68 members, including 49 from the Asia and the Pacific. The bank stated it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.