IDB loan to help with nat’l COVID-19 vaccination strategic plan

A $20 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is expected to strengthen the country’s emergency operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The just approved loan is pegged to be the answer to the county’s health service challenges as the COVID-19 war rages on, by helping to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the deadly virus.

The loan comes as the government prepares to roll out its national COVID-19 vaccination strategic plan, which the funds are expected to help support.

The $20 million is being executed over a two-year period, with an amortization period of 25 years and an interest rate based on LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate). It is being provided along with a four-part program to “strengthen response leadership at the country level” and improve testing.

“The first component will strengthen response leadership at the country level by enhancing its decision-making capabilities, surveillance, assessment, public health management and multisectoral coordination,” the IDB stated.

“The second component will finance the expansion of the health system’s capacity for screening, case detection, contact tracing, reporting and monitoring of COVID-19 cases.”

The IDB noted that its support will also help to finance access to vaccines, which entails supporting the national COVID-19 vaccination strategic plan and purchasing the doses.

“It will also fund the design and implementation of a public communications campaign, the update of care protocols and the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance at entry points. Finally, the fourth component will support bolstering the COVID-19 case management capacity and the continuity of essential care services during the emergency,” the IDB stated.

“The primary project outcome will be a strengthened emergency operations committee and preparedness and response plan. It also will reinforce the capacity of laboratories to diagnose COVID-19 and support the COVID-19 vaccine deployment plan to target and vaccinate prioritized groups. Moreover, it will consolidate the capacity to perform epidemiological surveillance and health facilities’ capability to triage patients, isolate cases and manage confirmed cases according to national protocols.”

This isn’t the first loan from the IDB being used to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

In August, the government concluded a $200 million policy loan with the IDB which it drew down on September 9 to help with the economic fallout from the pandemic.

The Bahamas has reported 7,623 COVID-19 cases since March 15, but for the first time last week recorded zero new cases before they again spiked by double digits.

There have been 163 deaths from COVID-19.

Despite lowered numbers, the IDB stated there is a need for additional health personnel, technical and physical resources in The Bahamas.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/idb-loan-to-help-with-natl-covid-19-vaccination-strategic-plan/