6 days Ago By Grace Salmang
THE COVID-19 Emergency Response Project officially closes today, April 15, 2025. The World Bank, whose financing of US$30 million under this COVID-19 Emergency Response Project has contributed to rapidly build our health system capacity in many ways. This is according to Dr Dora Lenturut when speaking at the end of project review and closing workshop that was recently held at the Lamana Hotel.
“Our country, with the world, was not spared from the pandemic and the challenges that we face. “It’s impact on the health and livelihoods of our people and the country’s economy.” Representing Acting Health Secretary Dr Osborne Liko who was not present to deliver his speech, Deputy Secretary, National Health Service Standards and Compliance Dr Lenturut-Katal acknowledged the work that has been done during the pandemic period and beyond what we are experiencing post-pandemic.
“Thank you, World Bank, for organising this meeting with our partners. “With concerted efforts and leadership across the role of government, participation from the community and civil society organisations, and with strong and timely support of the developing countries, we are able to respond quickly to the pandemic. “We appreciate our partners’ support,” she said.
She sincerely thanked every one and the organisation for the cooperation and support they have rendered throughout the four years as they tackled collectively the unprecedented challenges our society faced with this pandemic. “I want to acknowledge the support of our trusted partner; the World Bank. “Firstly, the project improved our capacity to detect and diagnose by investing in gold-standard diagnostic equipment and supplies such as PCR machines, antigen experts machines at several locations in the country.
“Secondly, it also equipped and empowered our health and community workforce with the knowledge, skills, and resources to respond to the pandemic. “Thirdly, it supported a nationwide RCCE campaign activities to reach as much as possible to the public with the right information and messages to protect themselves,” she said. She said this project has supported to fill the longstanding gap in our health system, an important area of health care quality standard in terms of safe and proper management of medical waste management, both on the policy and implementation perspectives at national and provincial level.
“It made visible the gaps that we have in the health care system in the country. The Health Department would not have been able to implement this project and achieve its intended goal without the support of implementing partners such as UNICEF and UNOPS and the development partners..
