A philanthropist has donated a staggering SR1 billion to the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for 75 mobile health clinics around the globe.

Ahmad Mohamed Ali, chairman of the IDB, said that the donor wants the money to be spent on setting up clinics for Muslims, with operational costs paid for at least five years.

Ali announced the donation at the 297th meeting of the IDB board at its headquarters on May 11.

This includes 15 each in Pakistan, India and Yemen, 10 each in Afghanistan and Bangladesh, and five each in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Ali said the IDB would supervise the clinics in rural and remote areas that have poor access to medical services. This would be in Muslim countries, IDB member-countries and non-member countries.

Ali said host countries would eventually take charge of the clinics and would be required to operate them in a competent and effective manner.

He said the IDB would ensure the donor's wishes are carried out in a professional way.

He encouraged other philanthropists to follow the donor's example and sponsor similar projects to serve poor people around the world.