Amidst the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic in Uttarakhand, the World Bank-supported Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project played a crucial role in bolstering the region's healthcare infrastructure and respond effectively to the ongoing health crisis.
Through this concerted effort, the project swiftly pivoted, reallocating a portion of its funds to secure critical medical equipment including Fowler beds, ambulances, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan machines, laboratory equipment, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, and a state-of-the-art digital radiology system. These strategic investments have yielded significant dividends for the community, with over 20,000 patients benefitting from these life-saving interventions during the pandemic.
The Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project restored critical infrastructure and enhanced connectivity in the regions affected by floods in the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. The Project financed the reconstruction of more than 2,300 resilient homes, more than 1,500 km of roads, 26 public buildings, more than 80 bridges, and several road and river protection works. The Project ensured that new infrastructure was built resilient to future disasters. In addition to infrastructure, the Project provided critical capacity-building support to the State, including supporting the creation, institutionalization, and strengthening of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Response Force. Technical assistance and studies, including the establishment of a geospatial platform for risk-based planning and a Statewide multi-hazard risk assessment, were also completed.