A $200 million loan from the World Bank has been approved to help Bangladesh improve primary healthcare services for the treatment, prevention, and referral of common illnesses, including mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, as well as medical waste management in the municipalities of Savar and Tarabo, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, and Chattogram City Corporation.
According to a news release issued today, the Urban Health, Nutrition, and Population Project will create a network of primary health centers that will provide a wide range of health, nutrition, and population services as well as a direct referral system with secondary and tertiary-level facilities.
About 2.5 million children under 5 in these urban areas will receive services. “Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in improving healthcare, particularly in rural areas,” said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.
“But urban areas have limited public healthcare facilities. Hence, poor people and slum dwellers are often forced to turn to more expensive private healthcare. Further, with high population density, climate change, and rapid urbanization, new health challenges are emerging, including an increase of dengue cases, infectious and non-communicable diseases,” he added.
With a goal of providing at least four visits throughout pregnancy to over 250,000 women, the project will enhance antenatal care for women. Additionally, it will help 1.3 million adults with their follow-up and screening for hypertension.
The project will refurbish a few current public health facilities, including government outdoor dispensaries and family planning clinics, to lower out-of-pocket costs for medical care for the poor.
In order to promote healthy lives, prevent illnesses, and lessen the negative effects of climate change and air pollution on human health, the project will also put a strong emphasis on environmental health and preventative services like mosquito control, medical waste management, and behavior change communication.
It will assist in the creation and application of a multi-sectoral plan to control infectious disease outbreaks in urban areas and local governments.
The project will implement a climate-based dengue early warning system, epidemic response capabilities, and take steps to eliminate breeding grounds in an effort to avoid dengue.
“The impact of climate change on mosquito-borne and infectious diseases is often overlooked. An overreliance on fogging or spraying targeting adult mosquitoes and untargeted larval control is not an efficient use of resources,” said Iffat Mahmud, Senior Operations Officer at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the Project.
“As mosquito lifecycle is influenced by climatic conditions, the project will strengthen the mosquito control laboratory and build capacities to implement innovative mosquito control measures and other community-based interventions,” added Mahmud.
The credit is from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. It has a 30-year duration with a five-year grace period and offers concessional financing.
One of Bangladesh’s earliest development partners was the World Bank. The World Bank has given Bangladesh around $40 billion in grants, interest-free loans, and concessional credits during the course of their 50-year cooperation. Bangladesh currently has the largest IDA program in the world, with a total commitment of $15.9 billion to 54 active projects.
