CONAKRY, December 1, 2014 —The President of the World Bank Group (WBG) Jim Yong Kim will be in Conakry on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 to reaffirm the WBG’s support for the Government and people of Guinea in their efforts to combat the Ebola epidemic. Dr. Kim will meet with the President of Guinea, government officials, staff of the National Anti-Ebola Unit, and a number of health workers leading the response effort in the country.
On his first visit to Guinea, Dr. Kim will express the WBG’s commitment to Guinea’s efforts in eradicating Ebola. Kim will visit the National Anti-Ebola Unit where he will have the opportunity to discuss with the national coordination team and its partners. The WBG President and his delegation will also meet health workers and their families, some of whom have colleagues or relatives who have made the ultimate sacrifice to combat Ebola. A press conference will be held after the various meetings with government officials in the Presidential Office.
Since the start of the Ebola epidemic, the World Bank has mobilized close to US$500 million to help the countries hardest hit by the crisis, namely Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. To date, the total financing allocated to Guinea is US$103 million, provided as a grant under the Ebola Emergency Response Project. The project will provide assistance, in the short term, to stop the spread of Ebola, ensure continuous supply of basic health services, and mitigate the socioeconomic impact on the three hardest hit countries. More specifically, this project will support the national anti-Ebola response and strengthen health systems, mobilize more people to tackle the epidemic and provide health care services, provide food to groups directly affected by the epidemic, and support other key sectors impacted by Ebola. In addition to the Ebola emergency response assistance, the World Bank has provided US$50 million to Guinea for budget assistance to help the government finance priority services to the population.
IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has established a facility targeting the private sector in the three countries most affected by the Ebola virus. This US$75 million facility, which will cover a 12-month period and is renewable twice, will also facilitate the financing of US$300 million in commercial activities over a three-year period.
