The World Bank has announced plans to increase funding to Zambia’s Health Systems Strengthening Project.
World Bank Task Team Leader for Zambia Health Service Improvement Project Rosemary Sunkutu said this in a presentation during the Ministry of Health Annual Consultative Meeting recently in Lusaka.
Dr. Sunkuntu said the Bank is considering additional funding because of the positive performance of the project.
The 67 million US Dollars Health System Strengthening Project which started in 2015, was scheduled to end on June 30th this year, but the World Bank has extended it by a year.
The project among many things looks at increasing numbers of nurses and midwives, improving the drug supply chain and community health.
“The World Bank intends to continue doing that, one of the areas I think which has been identified by the cooperating partners is to ensure that we improve efficiency and equitable access to service delivery at primary health care level that is one area which the World Bank is going to ensure that it continues supporting,” Dr. Sunkuntu said
Dr. Sunkuntu said the Bank would soon begin discussions in terms of what form of support to the primary health care with the Ministry of Health.
“We just completed the Public Expenditure review and Quality of Service review delivery. We are confident that the World Bank will take up some of the aspects in terms of ensuring that they plough back, ensuring we strengthen the systems to achieve Universal Health care Coverage,” Dr. Sunkuntu said
Dr. Sunkuntu reaffirmed that the World Bank would continue supporting the regional TB Project.
Zambian Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya assured cooperating partners of prudent utilization of Funds in the health sector.
The minister thanked the partners for aligning their support to the sector and assured them of government’s commitment to working with them to attain Universal Health Coverage.
