ADB, WHO PARTNER ON COVID-19 RESPONSE

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in helping contain the Covid-19 pandemic via expanding critical health care across Asia and the Pacific .

This strong collaboration was emphasized during a conference call made by ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa with WHO Regional Directors Dr. Takeshi Kasai and Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh where the pandemic was discussed.

ADB had earlier prepared a brief on the region's health security risks and weakened health systems, which have been stretched since the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I very much appreciate the close collaboration with the WHO regarding COVID-19. I found that the regular exchange of views and the latest information on the evolution of the pandemic provided by WHO have been invaluable to ADB’s operations,” said Mr. Asakawa. “ADB has incorporated inputs and advice from the WHO to ensure our support is fully responsive to the needs of our developing members. As countries implement these projects and ADB continues to expand technical and financing assistance, we look forward to continued collaboration to help guide our response to, and the region’s recovery from, COVID-19.”

ADB announced last April 13 a comprehensive support package of $20 billion to help developing members address the impacts of COVID-19. ADB and the WHO are finalizing an administrative arrangement (AA) to govern financial, reporting, and implementation mechanisms related to their joint response to COVID-19, as well as projects to support recovery from the crisis. The first AA between ADB and the WHO will cover South Asia before expanding to Central Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia.

ADB is also working with the WHO and the Japanese Ministry of Finance to convene a virtual Joint Finance and Health Ministers Meeting on COVID-19 and Universal Health Coverage in Asia and the Pacific during the second stage of ADB’s Annual Meeting in September.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.