World Bank says K31m Ebola budget too little
A joint World Bank and Canadian International Development Agency (Cida) implementation support mission says the current K31 million set aside for Ebola awareness is not enough to effectively implement the Ebola Preparedness Plan in case Malawi is hit by the disease.
According to an October 14 to November 5 2014 update, the mission—which held several meetings with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, the Department of Nutrition, Health, HIV and Aids, World Bank-Cida noted that some activities included in the plan have been initiated but significant technical as well as financial gaps exist.
Reads the update in part: “The budget itself appears to be underestimated to adequately and effectively implement the Ebola Preparedness Plan.”
The memoire further says there are significant gaps in the budget and include training of various cadres across the health service delivery system including the community, approved laboratory packaging materials and transportation for samples, other materials for infection control, prevention and patient’s management and supervision and undertaking mock drills.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali said the threat of Ebola exists; hence, the need to prepare in a comprehensive manner.
Meanwhile the money that government through the ministry of finance had asked the World Bank to cater for the Ebola Preparedness Plan (EPP) has been approved. It amounts to K3.5 billion. n
