The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) approved $8.9 million (about K6.5 billion) grant to boost Covid-19-related control measures in Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

A statement from AfDB says the above have been selected because they have inadequate resources and capacity to effectively manage the Covid-19 pandemic, which has put a strain on already fragile health systems in the countries.

Meanwhile, the budget for Malawi’s National Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan was revised upwards by 61.7 percent to K157 billion from K97 billion, while the spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Williams Banda hailed AfDB for the extended funds. So far, the 16-nation Sadc trade bloc had recorded about 120 000 Covid-19 cases, out of a continent-wide total of 325 000 cases as of June 24 2020.