National Health Dev. Program (Supplemental Credit)

closed

The objective of the National Health Development Program is to improve the health status of the population, particularly women and children, through a strengthened national public health system, service delivery, management structures, and processes. Utilization and conversion of primary health care centers and referral centers component aims at a) ensuring adequate physical coverage of health facilities accessible to a majority of the population, through the rehabilitation of health facilities, and construction of staff housing; and, b) ensuring the availability of a minimum package of activities. Notwithstanding, the construction program originally planned at appraisal, experienced various modifications in view of the urgent gaps resulting from the military conflict. At the same time, promised donors' financing to cover the needs evidenced by the health map, did not materialize as planned in view of the political situation in the country. Nevertheless, the project components and activities, as originally planned, remain relevant to the country's health priorities; therefore, this supplemental credit would enable the Government to sustain outcomes achieved under the original Credit, by ensuring the use, and effective coverage of primary health care services and referral centers, and further strengthening the Government's capacity in the sector. The proposed supplemental is consistent with the project development objectives, and meets the conditions as stipulated: the cost overrun is due to exceptional circumstances beyond the borrower's control; the loan is being implemented in compliance with covenants; it is impossible to reduce the scope of the project to fit the available resources, without significantly impairing the project's economic viability or capacity to achieve its objective; the borrower is unable to finance the additional costs, and to obtain additional funds from other lenders on reasonable terms or reasonable time; the borrower is committed to the project, and the implementing agencies have demonstrated competence in carrying it out.