The World Bank approves a USD48-million loan to help Morocco manage the health crisis

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a USD48-million loan to help Morocco manage the coronavirus health crisis. The loan is part of a program approved in 2015 to support primary health care services.

The loan includes a total USD13.01 million of undisbursed funds under said program and additional USD35 million from the WBG Fast Track COVID-19 Facility (FTCF).

«The critical phase the country is entering will require continued strong efforts to contain the pandemic and mobilize resources to finance the sanitary response. Through the current support, we intend to provide Morocco with additional resources to enhance its testing capacity and develop preventive solutions against virus spread», said Jesko Hentschel, World Bank Maghreb Country Director.

The loan is expected to help the Ministry of Health increase budget prioritization effort and strengthen hospital readiness. «The allocated budget finances the procurement of drugs, equipment, and medical supplies. In addition, it will help finance technical and medical equipment for laboratories and hospitals accredited to manage COVID-19 cases and scale up testing capacity and case management», reads a press release by the World Bank. The loan will also help equip and train health workers in the Kingdom.