The three provinces are Vinh Phuc in the north, Khanh Hoa in the center and Long An in the south.

The WB expects the project to benefit some 270,000 people, including at least 3,500 particularly vulnerable citizens like the elderly, ethnic minority communities, HIV carriers, drug abusers and sex workers.

They will be given information on Covid-19 prevention as well as psychological and material assistance, including foodstuff, medicines and protective equipment.

The project will be implemented until December 2024. The non-refundable aid of $2.75 million comes from the Japan Social Development Fund, a joint effort of the Japanese government and the WB.

Rahul Kitchlu, acting WB country director in Vietnam, said that the grassroots level medical system plays an important part in protecting frontliners in the fight against Covid-19, but the pandemic has exposing some of its weaknesses. A national Covid-19 response system should be effective at all levels, he said.

Vietnam has recorded over 377,000 local Covid-19 cases so far in the fourth coronavirus outbreak since late April.