Spain gives the World Bank a €100 million guarantee to repair health infrastructures in Ukraine

The Government of Spain will provide a €100 million guarantee for a World Bank project to repair health infrastructures and strengthen basic health care in Ukraine.

The Health Enhancement and Life-Saving Project (HEAL Ukraine) is helping the Ukrainian authorities to repair hospital and primary care infrastructure, strengthen mental health and rehabilitation services, regain ground in childhood immunisation, restore access to affordable medicines and expand online health services.

During a side meeting in Bengaluru, India, during the first G20 meeting for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under the chairmanship of India, First Vice President and Minister for Economy and Digital Transformation Nadia Calviño and World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed support for Ukraine.

"Spain's contribution to the World Bank project will strengthen health infrastructures and save lives in Ukraine. We are deeply committed to a united and coordinated global response to restore peace in Ukraine," said Spain's first vice-president Nadia Calviño.

According to World Bank Group President David Malpass, "Russian attacks are inflicting brutal human suffering, while decimating the very health infrastructure needed to respond to it and to meet the country's basic health needs". In his view, "this project is helping the Ukrainian government to improve access to primary care and to address the health challenges resulting from the war. We welcome the support of the Government of Spain and its contribution to this critical initiative".

Spain gives a guarantee of €100 million

This health project, approved by the World Bank in December 2022, is mobilising partner resources using an innovative approach. The €100 million guarantee from Spain is complemented by $10 million from the Global Financing Facility and another $10 million from the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). In light of the growing needs in Ukraine's health sector, the project aims to raise $500 million.

Ukraine's health needs are staggering. As of January 2023, 6% of the country's health infrastructure was damaged. Immunisation among infants under one year old had fallen by 20% by November 2022. Almost a third of Ukrainians said in September 2022 that they could not afford essential medicines. About 10 million people are at risk of suffering from mental disorders, including acute stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. The injuries caused by the war have led to a significant increase in the need for rehabilitation services.

The project has a strong focus on women's vulnerability in wartime. In the two months since the project's approval, 500 health workers have been trained to treat victims of rape and other forms of gender-based violence.

The Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) was established by the World Bank to coordinate aid funding to sustain Ukraine's government functions, provide services and implement aid flows. The URTF is a flexible platform that allows the World Bank to prioritise and channel funds to the most urgent needs of the Government of Ukraine, currently with contributions from Austria, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

To date, the World Bank has mobilised more than $18 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, including donor pledges and commitments. More than $17 billion of this funding has been disbursed. This is a complete list of funding for Ukraine mobilised by the World Bank Group.

Non official translation