The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $231,178 to Bangladesh for enhancing Covid-19 infection related facilities in 134 urban primary health centres across the country.

The health centres, called Nagar Shastho Kendro, are providing primary healthcare services to the urban poor under the ADB-supported Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project in nine city corporations and four municipalities.

The assistance will help set up hand washing stations and screening booths and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to about 2,700 physicians and health workers.

Besides, awareness programmes about Covid-19 prevention and management as well as training on Covid-19 detection and treatment to health workers and doctors will be held.

The grant assistance is sourced from ADB's Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund, under the Urban Financing Partnership Facility.

"We are pleased to provide this grant assistance to further strengthen government's efforts in managing the Covid-19 pandemic and delivering related services to the people," said Manmohan Parkash, country director of the bank.

"This initiative will be a model of providing both Covid and non-Covid-related healthcare services for over eight million urban poor through Nagar Shastho Kendro in Bangladesh," he added.

On May 7, ADB approved $500 million to strengthen Bangladesh's efforts to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The bank approved a $100 million concessional loan on April 30 to support the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to address the immediate public health requirements of combatting the pandemic.