US $ 387.03 Million contribution benefitting Sri Lankans across the island
Between May 2020 and June 2021, the project has contributed to the following results:
In the initial, emergency phase of the project:
- 1 million rapid antigen test kits, 390,000 PCR test kits, and 1.1 million sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) were procured for hospitals.
- 26 cabs and 805 motorbikes have been procured for use by the Medical Officers of Health and Public Health Inspectors who are in charge of all grass root level health and COVID management activities. The additional vehicles will increase capacity for contact tracing, testing, and follow up, and will also support vaccine deployment activities.
- 70 intermediate care centers, with isolation facilities are being refurbished or modified to handle COVID patients. Work on 56 of the centers has been completed and work on the remaining centers is ongoing.
- Work is in progress to strengthen four hospitals to function as mini Infectious Disease Hospitals (IDH) at the provincial level (Kilinochchi, Hambanthota, Ampara, NIID).
- Work is in progress to build/expand ICU facilities in six hospitals (Rathnapura, Anuradhapura, Eheliyagoda, Warakapola, Marawila, and Balangoda) and to build/expand HDU facilities in two hospitals (Pimbura and NIMH).
- 87 ICU/HDU beds have been supplied to increase the total national capacity of ICU/HDU beds to 650
- 120 high- low nasal oxygen therapy units, 25 ICU ventilators, 7 neonatal ventilators 20 transport ventilators, 2,100 Oxygen concentrators were procured through the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS).
Approximately 2,500,000 Test Kits and Personal Protective Equipment’s were procured during the emergency phase
Over 70 care centers and 12 Hospitals were expanded to facilitate increasing patient numbers during the emergency phase
Results achieved to date under the project’s cash transfer program include:
- 629,303 elderly persons, 52,940 people with special needs, and 18,972 patients with chronic kidney disease were supported during the first wave of the pandemic.
- 1,338,422 beneficiaries who lost their livelihoods due to the lockdown received a one-time cash transfer of Rs. 5,000, and 417,427 beneficiaries sent on home quarantine received an in-kind transfer of food packs worth Rs. 5,000 for two weeks from October to December 2020.
Approximately 2,500,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries including vulnerable communities reached out by the project’s cash transfer program
Results achieved to date under the project’s vaccination program include:
- The signing of an agreement framework between the government and GAVI-COVAX for cost-sharing of the first round of vaccines in June 2021.
- While the global shortage of vaccines, and difficulties in receiving the expected quantities through the COVAX Facility, has slowed vaccination efforts, as of September 15, 2021, the government has vaccinated 60 percent of the total population with one dose and 47 percent with two doses. The government’s goal is to complete vaccination of the over 30 population by end August 2021.
- By strengthening the emergency response capacity of the public health system throughout the country, and by supporting the management of the pandemic, the COVID-19 project has and will continue to benefit the people of Sri Lanka and contribute to saving lives.
