2 May 2022 – The World Bank has granted an additional US$8 million in emergency COVID-19 support for the Solomon Islands, following a severe worsening of the COVID-19 situation in recent months, with over 14,000 confirmed cases and 141 recorded deaths.
The additional $8 million is in addition to a $5 million grant authorized by the World Bank in February 2021, bringing the total World Bank support to US$13 million. This funding will be used to support the Solomon Islands’ increased health response to the pandemic, including prevention, preparedness, and emergency response operations throughout the country, as well as initiatives, to strengthen health systems and facilities and increase vaccine access.
The funding will help cover the costs of response efforts, such as gender-based violence support and communications, as well as support for case detection and contact tracing, mobilization of health workers across the country, and case detection and contact tracing. It will also help cover the costs of response efforts, such as gender-based violence support and communications.
The increased financing will also include help for routine health services to reduce the impact of pandemic-related consequences on existing health services, ensuring that the Solomon Islands’ path toward universal healthcare coverage is not hampered.