The World Bank board of directors has approved $ 114. 28 m financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID - 19 with a specific focus on state level responses .
The bank said this in a statement titled ‘ Nigeria to boost states capacity for COVID - 19 response ’ released on Friday .
This included $ 100m credit from the International Development Association and $ 14 . 28 m grant from the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility .
The bank said , “ Through the COVID - 19 preparedness and response project ( CoPREP) , the government of Nigeria will provide grants to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as immediate support to break the chain of COVID - 19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies . ”
It said that grants to states would be conditional on states adopting COVID - 19 response strategies which were in line with the Federal Government guidelines and strategies .
“ CoPREP will enhance the institutional and operational capacity for disease detection through provision of technical expertise, coordination support , detection , diagnosis and case management efforts in all states and the FCT as per the WHO guidelines in the strategic response plan, ” it stated .
It said it would also help the government mobilise such response capacity through trained and well - equipped frontline healthcare workers and strengthen the public health care network for future health emergencies .
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri , said , “ Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the COVID - 19 outbreak , but more needs to be done at the state level , which are at the frontline of the response .
The project will provide the states with much needed direct technical and fiscal support to strengthen their position in combating the pandemic . ”
In addition , it added , the project would finance federal procurements of medical equipment , laboratory tests , and medicines to be distributed to the states based on their needs.
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