The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) Board of Directors has approved a loan of USD7.3 million to the Maldives to strengthen the country’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is AIIB’s first project financing in the country.

Cofinanced with the World Bank, the project will immediately enable the government to scale up its efforts to provide protection to medical professionals through the provision of personal protective equipment and strengthen health systems through boosting testing capabilities. Beneficiaries include at-risk populations, particularly the elderly and people with underlying conditions, as well as public health agencies engaged in the response in the Maldives.