This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On Wednesday, June 24, the African Development Bank's Board of Directors approved a $4.16 million grant to South Sudan to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and bolster the country's health system.
The grant, from the Transitional Support Facility of the bank's African Development Fund, will fund a project to enhance the capacity of South Sudan's health facilities and improve detection and control of Covid-19 cases.
South Sudan remains at high risk due to limited hospital bed capacity, skills gaps, and a lack of functioning medical equipment, according to the African Development Bank.
"The bulk of activities under the project will focus on improving facilities for management of Covid-19 cases, including procurement of oxygen cylinders and recruitment and training of health workers," the bank stated.
The project will be implemented by a team at the World Health Organization in close coordination with South Sudan's Ministry of Health.
As of Friday, South Sudan had recorded 1,942 Covid-19 cases, with 224 recoveries and 36 deaths.
South Sudan became a member of the African Development Bank in 2012, shortly after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.
