Washington, D.C., October 14, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Myanmar.
The Essential Health Services Access Project is expected to benefit about 4 million pregnant women and young children across all of Myanmar’s 330 townships. The Project aims to increase coverage of critical health services that provide quality care, with a focus on the health of mothers, infants and children.
“Providing quality health services to all people in Myanmar is one of our main priorities. With the support from the World Bank, I believe this project will help improve the quality of health services for mothers and their young children and ultimately, will help bring us closer to achieving the ambitious goal of universal health coverage,” said Dr. Thein Thein Htay, Deputy Minister, Myanmar Ministry of Health.
The project is designed to improve both the coverage and quality of maternal and child health services in Myanmar. Under the project, communities will receive grants for health services at the local level and support for implementing inclusive planning, resource management and improved local oversight. Specifically, project funds will help cover a wide range of expenses critical to the function of health facilities, such as medical supplies, facility maintenance and repairs, patient transfers, and community engagement.
“By investing in the health of mothers and children, the government is making a substantial investment in Myanmar’s future, said Abdoulaye Seck, Country Manager of the World Bank in Myanmar. The World Bank is pleased to support Myanmar’s people-centered approach to development by providing more funding to front-line health facilities to deliver better health services for people across the country.”
The US$100 million IDA credit in support of the health sector in Myanmar is part of the World Bank Group’s rapidly growing support program for the country. The World Bank Group, in close coordination with development partners, is beginning work with Myanmar on a new Country Partnership Framework. This Framework will scale up support for Myanmar—building on plans for a US$2 billion multi-year development package announced by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim during his visit to Myanmar in early 2014. The framework will also include programs to help improve agriculture, water, access to energy and education, as well as public financial management, financial inclusion, private sector development, and other key development priorities.
