Myanmar parliament votes to seek $100 loan from IDA for health ministry

22 March 2020
Myanmar parliament votes to seek $100 loan from IDA for health ministry
Members of Myanmar's parliament attend a session at the Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) in Naypyidaw on March 10, 2020. Photo: Ye Aung Thu/AFP

Myanmar parliament members debated a motion this week forwarded from the President’s Office to acquire $100 million from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Ministry of Health and Sports, according to local media.

Dr San Shwe Win of Yekyi constituency approved the motion, saying that the nation will receive both financial assistance and technical knowhow from a global financial institution like the World Bank, according to a report in the Global New Light of Myanmar.

The Myanmar authorities see the need to bolster their response to the danger posed by the coronavirus, although no cases have yet been found in the country.

Sai Aung Kyaw of Kyaytee constituency also approved the motion, saying that the loan will help the health ministry to continue its work uninterrupted and provide healthcare services for the people.

The Myanmar government has set in place a committee, led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and brought in a series of measures to work to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and provide health care advice to its citizens.