Bank Renews Support for Health and Safe Motherhood in Chad

Washington Contact:  Claire Hervey (202)473-8294 
N'Djamena Contact:  Lucienne M'Baipor (235)52.32.47 
To obtain project documents please contact the World Bank's Infoshop
at tel: 202-458-5454, fax: 202-522-1500, email: pic@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, September 17, 1998 —The World Bank today approved additional funding to ensure the completion of the ongoing Health and Safe Motherhood Project in Chad.

The $10.9 million equivalent credit will go toward completing the construction and rehabilitation of health infrastructure, such as hospitals and clinics; assisting the government in launching a training program for paramedical personnel; and increasing efficiency and sustainability in the health sector by bolstering the administration's reforms. A public education plan will also increase community participation in health issues, and reduce rates of death and illness from communicable diseases and peri-natal health concerns.

Chad's demographic and health indicators are among the worst in the world (see box). However, current conditions reflect significant improvements since the project was begun in 1994. Twelve additional health districts and 97 additional health "responsibility zones" have been made operational. Access to basic primary care facilities has expanded to 65 percent of the population, up from 58 percent four years ago. A central procurement agency has been established that provides essential generic drugs to the public and to non-profit health entities. AIDS and sexually transmitted disease education and other activities have been decentralized, and awareness has increased considerably. The National Health Policy and the District Health Plan have been effectively used as frameworks for donor coordination, and have demonstrated an increase in capacity among the Ministry of Public Health.

"These funds will provide basic health services to more than 250,000 people who do not currently have any access to health facilities," said Michèle Lioy, Senior Population Specialist with the World Bank.

This supplemental credit will permit the project, begun in 1994, to be fully completed, and will respond to the government's main priorities in the health sector?to increase the number of qualified health personnel and to provide quality basic health services to the people of Chad.

The US$17 million Chad Supplemental Health and Safe Motherhood Project will be financed by a US$10.9 million equivalent credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's lending arm for the poorest countries. The balance of the supplemental project will be financed by the Government of Chad in the equivalent of US$1.8 million; communities in the equivalent of US$3.1 million, and UNICEF in the equivalent of US$1 million. The IDA credit is on standard terms of 40 years maturity (including a 10 year grace period), and 0.75 percent service charge.