WB to provide $515 million for health sector development

The World Bank (WB) will provide $515 million for financing a programme designed to improve further the country's health sector and ensure that all citizens have access to better health services.

The government and the WB will sign Monday (tomorrow) a financing agreement, which will be provided for the Health Sector Support Programme (HSSP).

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the HSSP will extend support in implementation of strategically focused Fourth Sector Programme of the government, which will be done in the next five years for an estimated a cost of $14.8 billion to ensure quality health services and healthy environment for all, reports BSS.

HSSP is consistent with the government's programme and policies and will play an important role in advancing key areas of the country's health sector, the HSSP policy document, prepared by the health ministry, said.

The WB in a document said Sunday (today) that the objective of the HSSP is to strengthen the health, nutrition and population (HNP) sector's core management system and delivery of essential HNP services, with a focus on selected geographical areas.

According to the document, the HSSP will have focus on improving the health facilities and healthy environment at the upazila level by ensuring accountability of the health officials and developing a better system for managing medical and other infectious wastes.

Under the programme, focal persons will be assigned at upzilas for supervision of medical waste management (MWM) activities, and constructing burial pits for sharps and infectious wastes.

All employees involved in handling of MWM will also be provided with appropriate training on occupational health and safety protocols under the HSSP.