MANILA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday said it has disbursed 20 million U.S. dollars, comprising a 10-million-dollar grant and a 10-million-dollar concessional loan, to help the Solomon Islands fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Manila-based bank said the loan and grant, which were handed out on Thursday, will be used to train nurses and doctors in the Solomon Islands to fight COVID-19 and obtain personal protective equipment for medical staff.
According to an ADB statement, the fund will also help finance the government's economic stimulus to support individuals and businesses.
On Friday, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and Solomon Islands Minister of Finance Harry Kuma discussed how ADB can continue to support the country as it addresses the health risks and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asakawa said ADB "is providing assistance to the Solomon Islands to prepare for any future health emergency and to support the implementation of the country's Economic Stimulus Package."
"Solomon Islands must be commended for their early, proactive efforts to stop COVID-19 from entering the country," Asakawa added.
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