Press Release No:2007/451/AFR
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007 - The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of US$8.5 million to support the Government's National Health Plan.
The Health System Reconstruction project aims to strengthen policy making and management functions for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW). It will help increase the number of doctors, nurses and allied health workers in critical areas of staff shortage and help the government rebuild some of the crucial building blocks needed for a functioning health sector.
"The World Bank Group support will address three -human resources for health, infrastructure development and support systems-of the four pillars of the health plan, adding to the resources provided to the sector by the government and other donors in order to achieve the greatest effect," said Alexander Preker, the World Bank Task Team Leader of the project.
During and after the years of conflict, the health sector in Liberia benefited from extensive donor assistance focused on addressing the basic health care needs of the population. However, the foundations of the health sector such as policy making, governance, human resources, physical infrastructure, and equipment were destroyed.
The Government National Health policy and Plan reaffirms its commitment to work toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals with a particular focus on activities that will contribute to overall improvements in maternal and child survival.
The first component of the project, support systems, will support the operational capacity of the MOHSW to effectively manage the project and expand its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It will also provide information communication technology to the ministry staff to support a health management information system.
The second component, Human Resources, will support hiring of clinical teachers, including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, and allied health workers.
The last component, Infrastructure and Equipment, will help rehabilitate essential medical facilities and medical teaching institutions and support the acquisition of basic medical supplies, medical emergency equipment, communications and energy generating equipment and ambulances.
The Bank team has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in recent months, as well as with other donor partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.K Department for International Development (DFID), the European Commission (EC), and the Irish Aid.
The Health System Reconstruction project falls under the World Bank's new rapid response procedures for emergency projects.
###
For more information on the World Bank's work in sub-Saharan Africa visit: http://www.worldbank.org/afr
For more information on the World Bank's work in Liberia visit: http://web.worldbank.org/liberia
For more information on the project visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK"8424&Projectid=P105282
Contacts:
In Washington: Beldina Auma (1+202) 458-7307
baumaowuor@worldbank.org
In Monrovia: Kay Schwendinger (+ 231)
6 592 898
kschwendinger@worldbank.org