By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 12 :Government of Nepal has signed a Rs. 19.58 billion concessional loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to purchase vaccines against COVID-19.
Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Nepal Country Director of ADB Arnaud Cauchois signed on the agreement at a programme organised at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
The money will be utilised in procuring 15.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines which will benefit about 6.8 million people.
Marasini said that the financial support would be instrumental in ensuring safe and effective vaccine to Nepali people. “It will contribute to save lives of Nepali citizens and revive the economy,” he said, while adding that the vaccination programmes were top priority of the government.
Cauchois expressed confidence that this agreement would be helpful in breaking the deadly cycle of COVID-19 and saving the lives of people, and moving to the economic and social revival. He pledged for the continuation of such support in the future as well.
The government also plans to make the vaccine distribution more effective and enhance community participation in the drive with the new support from the ADB.