<span style="color: #222222;">India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,  AIIB today signed a 500 million dollar "COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project" in New Delhi to  strengthen its public health preparedness.<br />'' <br />'' This is the first ever health sector support from the Bank to India.<br />'' <br />'' Finance Ministry said, this new support will cover all States and Union Territories across the country and address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel and service providers, medical and testing facilities, and national and animal health agencies.<br />'' <br />'' The agreement was signed by Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Sameer Kumar Khare and Rajat Misra, Director General (Acting) on behalf of the AIIB.<br />'' <br />'' Mr Khare said, that AIIB's timely assistance will help Government in its efforts to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen the national health systems for preparedness in India.<br />'' <br />''The project will also enhance the resilience of India's health system to provide core public health prevention and patient care to better manage COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks. It will help strengthen country's Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, revamp infectious disease hospitals and medical college hospitals.</span>