The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has granted Morocco a loan of 204 million dollars to finance the Social Protection Improvement Support Program (PAAPS). «This is a loan agreement of 204 million dollars (about 2 billion dirhams) spread over 4 years whose aim is to accompany an integrated support program for the improvement of social protection in Morocco», said Friday in Rabat, minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform, Mohamed Benchaaboun, during the signing ceremony of the agreement relating to this loan. In this regard, he noted that the aim is to achieve 80 per cent social security coverage in Morocco by 2023, specifying that the program covered several components, notably the construction of hospital centers in Guelmim and Ouarzazate, as well as the upgrading of some 100 hospital units in rural areas and 31 social protection facilities in three main regions (Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Guelmim-Oued Noun and Darâa-Tafilalet). Underscoring the quality and excellent level of cooperation relations between Morocco and AfDB, Benchaâboun recalled that the Kingdom is the largest recipient of loans on the African continent. For her part, minister of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and the Family, Jamila Elmossalli, stressed the importance of this project on this crucial aspect of social protection, recalling the work started by the Kingdom in this area through compulsory insurance and social assistance. On her turn, Leila Farah Mokaddem, resident representative of AfDB's national office in Morocco, said the program will help strengthen medical coverage, particularly the Medical Assistance Scheme (RAMED) and medical coverage for self-employed workers, develop quality health services through the setting up of hospitals in Guelmim and Ouarzazate and upgrade 100 primary health care facilities in rural areas. Secretary general of the ministry of Health, Abdelilah Boutaleb, for his part, noted that the Health department reiterates its renewed commitment to cooperation to achieve accelerated, equitable and sustainable progress in the health system and thus contribute effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
