DUSHANBE, May 4, 2009, Asia-Plus — The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$ 5 million grant in additional financing for the Community and Basic Health Project (CBHP), press release issued by the World Bank said.
The additional financing will help to enable the completion of the original CBHP investments and activities and to scale up and expand activities to maximize the development impact of the CBHP and support the development and the implementation of the health sector strategy.
The project has been very successful in supporting the initial reforms aimed at introducing capitation and output-based payment methods and improving quality of service delivery in Primary Health Care (PHC) centers. The CBHP aims to bolster efforts in: Health Policy and Planning, Organizational and Financing Reforms, Strengthening Primary Health Care, and Project Coordination and Capacity Building in Implementation.
“The critical importance of a healthy population, including the poor, must be a primary consideration to support a growing economy in Tajikistan. The progress and commitment to date reaffirms the importance of the project and its main expected benefits, which are related to the modernization of the health infrastructure, medical and information equipment, improved access to health care for low-income groups, and human capital building,” said Pia Schneider, the World Bank Task Team Leader for Tajikistan.
In June, 2008, the Bank’s Board approved an Additional Grant for the CBHP to respond to the Global Food Price Crisis in the amount of US$4.0 million and about 200,000 women who are pregnant or lactating are targeted for nutrition education and for micro-nutrients supplements (Vitamin A), iron and folic acid. Growth monitoring equipment has been delivered to 1,200 PHC centers in the two CBHP oblasts.
The new grant will contribute to improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in the management of public funds in the health sector. The Additional Financing is expected to finance a combination of consultant services, medical and computer equipment, medical furniture, basic renovation of an office in Oblast Health Department in Sughd, and training of health care staff in Family Medicine.
The Project, at a total cost of US$19 million, would continue to support the Government in developing and implementing provider payment reforms as the main strategy to improve efficiency of service delivery, control the cost of health care provision while ensuring access to quality care. CBHP is co financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Swiss Development Confederation (SDC).
The World Bank’s mission in Tajikistan is to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and encourage a better quality of life. The country became a member of the World Bank on June 4, 1993. The World Bank’s overall mission in Tajikistan is to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and encourage a better quality of life. The World Bank plays a role as the catalyst of change and an institution bringing global experience to developing countries.
