WB gives US$ 24m

Focus on health needs of N-E people:

The World Bank has approved a US$24 million IDA credit providing further support to the Government’s health service delivery program, with emphasis on the special health needs in the North and East arising out of the recent developments.

“With the end of the military conflict, Sri Lanka is now facing the challenges of resettlement and reconstruction within the context of reconciliation.

An immediate challenge is to provide basic health services to the conflict-affected populations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including around 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently residing in temporary camps.

“Half the project’s amount, namely US$12 million, will go to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to help them meet their special health needs arising from the conflict.

“This reflects the Bank’s commitment to addressing consequences of the conflict whenever we can,” World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka Naoko Ishii said.

“An upcoming health needs assessment for the North and East will determine the specific activities the project will finance, but it could include mobile clinics at IDP camps, rehabilitation of disabled, treatment of traumatized persons, and other immediate priorities.”

The US$24 million is additional financing to Health Sector Development Project (HSDP), currently financed by an IDA grant of US$60 million which was approved by the Bank on June 15, 2004.

The project will continue to support decentralization of health service delivery, including strengthening of district and provincial capacity for planning and implementation of health programs. It will also support efforts to improve service delivery and renovate health facilities, provide training for health workers, and provision of medical supplies and equipment.

“The project has been helping the Provincial and District level authorities in taking greater responsibility for the primary and secondary level healthcare,” World Bank team leader for the project Sundararajan Srinivasa Gopalan, said.

“This results in programs that are more responsive to the needs of the local communities.”

The project will also help the Central Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition become more effective in its use of evidence base and information systems for policy, planning, monitoring and management.

The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm, has 20 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period.