Mozambique has received a $1.6 million grant from the African Development Bank to purchase emergency health materials in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The grant forms part of a $9.7 million grant to support the COVID-19 emergency response and strengthen health systems. Its target is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and in São Tomé and Príncipe. The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved the grant last year.

Meanwhile, Mozambique used the $1.6 million allocation to provide medical supplies to increase testing and screening and acquire equipment. Some of the equipment include adult and pediatric intensive care unit ventilators. Others include BiPAP devices that work like a mechanical respirator in the treatment of lung diseases. The funding was also used to purchase oxygen masks, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits. Some of the supplies were presented to the government on Wednesday.

Mozambican Minister of Health, Dr. Armindo Tiago, held a formal handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health Office. In attendance was the African Development Bank Country Manager, Pietro Toigo, and WHO Representative, Dr. Joaquim Saweka.

Reduction in COVID-19 infections

Mozambique has seen a decrease in COVID-19 infections. However, health authorities are on alert due to the threat of new variants and the risk of a third wave.

“Even though vaccination started on March 8 in Mozambique, there is still some way to go. This support comes at the right time, when Mozambique urgently needs to strengthen the health system’s capacity in order to cope with the emerging COVID-19 variant in neighboring countries” .
Minister Tiago

The SADC Secretariat implemented the project in partnership with the World Health Organization and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, Tiago noted that the partnership with WHO will complement the efforts of the African Development Bank and the government to support the private sector and the national budget.

“The Bank is deeply committed to supporting Mozambique to put the pandemic behind it, and to protect lives and, crucially, support the economic recovery; put the country back on the development trajectory it deserves”.

WHO’s commitment

Dr. Joaquim Saweka, the WHO Representative in Mozambique, said the donation was part of a long-standing partnership with the African Development Bank. He said it was “an expression of WHO’s commitment to ensure that the government strengthens its capacity”. According to him, this will help the government serve those affected by the pandemic and beyond.

Meanwhile, there are other Bank support to Mozambique to reduce the impact of COVID-19. This includes $42 million in emergency budget support to strengthen health systems, expand social security and assist the private sector.

Furthermore, the Bank mobilized $4.5 million from existing projects to support initiatives to protect workers and accelerate border-tracking activities in the transport sector. Also, the Bank subsidized credit to reduce the impact on small agricultural businesses and to support young Mozambican artisans to produce masks.