Turkey Emergency COVID-19 Health Project Additional Financing

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The Project consists of two components to support the government to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen health system to detect and treat cases. Components will include: (i) Emergency COVID-19 Response (indicatively, US$98M) and (ii) Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (indicatively, US$2M).The project has been designed based on a theory of change that links access to essential services and information to clinical and behavioral change needed to stem the tide of infection and enhance resilience. At the facility level, through investments in the strengthening the capacity of ICUs and laboratories, and the provision of basic equipment and medical inputs (e.g. test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE)), as well as training of facility personnel in COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols, the Project will strengthen the health system’s capacity to respond to the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, which will lead to an increase in the utilization of testing and treatment services. By investing in the development of risk communications materials, the Project will increase the level of information disseminated to the population at risk. Together, these investments will increase the capacity of the Government of Turkey to respond to the pandemic (as well as prepare for future pandemics) and, ultimately, decrease COVID19-related morbidity and mortality. The CPF for fiscal year FY18-23 predates the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore the AF is not included in the CPF, but is consistent with it. Both the CPF and the FY18-21 Performance and Learning Review (that extended the CPF period to cover FY22-23) recognize the need to invest in strengthening the health system to improve the quality of care. As such, both this AF and the parent project are consistent with the objective to strengthen performance of the health sector outlined under the CPF Focus Area 2 (Inclusion).Country, sectoral and institutional context: COVID-19 continues to constitute a serious threat to public health in Turkey. As of February 11, 2022, Turkey accounts for a total of 12.65 million cases, ranking as the seventh most affected country in the world in terms of COVID-19 cases. Turkey has also had 89,741 cumulative deaths and is currently experiencing a surge, with 99,498 new cases reported in the last seven days. In addition, test positivity stands at 23 percent, significantly higher than the WHO average of 5 percent, indicating that the epidemic is still not under control. The National Vaccination and Development Plan (NVDP) aims to vaccinate 75 percent of the population with at least two doses. As of February 2022, the Government reports having deployed vaccines covering approximately 62.4 percent of the overall population with two doses and 29.9 percent of the overall population with booster doses. Activities: The parent project finances activities to strengthen testing and medical surveillance systems, procurement of frontlineequipment, medical equipment and supplies required for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients, community engagement and outreach activities to enhance public health awareness and behavioral change, and activities to upgrade pandemic surveillance and response plans. The AF will finance vaccine procurement and health systems strengthening activities.