The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) approved, on Friday 24 July, in Abidjan, budget support of US$14.28 million to the Central African Republic to finance its Covid-19 Pandemic Response Support Program (PABRC-CAR). The Bank's financial assistance consists of a $6.12 million grant from the African Development Fund and another $8.16 million from the Technical Assistance Fund. To support the efforts of the Central African government in the implementation of its response plan, the main objectives of the PABRC-RCA program are to support the validation of the health response plan, the strengthening of reception capacities for Covid-19 patients, the strengthening of testing capacity, with an increase in the number of laboratories and the training of health personnel for the treatment of infections related to the new coronavirus. As a result, testing capacity is expected to increase to at least 500 tests per day, and emergency response capacity is expected to increase. In this context, the African Development Bank will support the construction, renovation and provision of equipment for at least five patient reception centres, at least five laboratories capable of detecting the virus and the training of more than 300 health workers, of which at least 50% are women, to the prevention of infections. The PABRC-RCA programme will also provide direct support to the most vulnerable households. About 500 farms, half of which are headed by women, will benefit from sustainable agricultural inputs and 1,000 households, with 50% women at their head, will receive food kits. In addition, nearly 200 large and medium-sized enterprises will benefit from tax measures in order to be able to restart their production activity under more favourable conditions and thus guarantee the preservation of jobs. "In a country already affected by a humanitarian and security crisis, this support is important because it will contribute to efforts to cushion the health and social impact of this pandemic, but also will preserve economic gains for the post-Covid-19 recovery," said Moustapha Doukouré, Senior Governance and Economic Management Officer at the African Development Bank. As of July 21, 2020, according to the World Health Organization, the Central African Republic had 4561 confirmed cases of Covid-19 contamination, including 1411 people cured and 55 deaths. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contact:

Alexis Adélé

Department of Communication and External Relations

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The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) is the leading development finance institution in Africa. It comprises three separate entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Special Fund (NSF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www. AfDB.org