APA-Nairobi (Kenya) The World Bank has approved a US$100 million credit for Kenya to improve the delivery of essential health services to its people, especially the poor.
The Kenya Health Sector Support Project, approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors will support the Kenya government’s efforts to strengthen basic health services and enhance the planning, financing and procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
“The Bank’s support to Kenya’s health sector will help increase the access of Kenyans to basic health services,” Johannes Zutt, the Country Director for Kenya said in Nairobi on Wednesday.
“This Project will improve the governance of health service delivery, increase the flow of resources to local health facilities, and enhance social equity,” he added.
The Project will support decentralized health services by financing 4,000 health centers and dispensaries to improve the quality of services provided, with greater social accountability, transparency and information dissemination.
It will also help Kenya attain the health-related Millennium Development Goals, and is framed within Kenya’s Vision 2030 social pillar and the Bank’s Country Partnership Strategy, which was approved by the World Bank in April 2010.
Kenya has achieved significant health gains since 2003, with reduced mortality rates and increased life expectancy.
But serious challenges remain to be addressed including severe inequities in health status and access to services, weak governance, poor flows of funds to the periphery, and disruptions in supplies of commodities.
JK/daj/APA
2010-06-30
