$40m US support for health
Through United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US, for the first time, will pool US$ 40 million to be directly used in a health programme of Bangladesh government.
US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan W Mozena yesterday said, “We are making history today because for the first time ever America is undertaking a grant agreement with the World Bank (WB) in Bangladesh that will pool US funds with those of other development partners.”
“These funds will directly support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Health Sector Development Program,” he said at a press briefing at Economic Relations Division in Dhaka.
In his address, Health and Family Planning Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque said the fund is meant for the 6th Five-Year Plan, “Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Program”.
The programme aims at reducing the population growth and mortality rate of women and children, strengthening family planning programmes and controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The programme is estimated to cost US$ 7.6 billion, of which US$ 5.9 billion will be provided by the government and the rest will come from development partners, including USAID, the UK, Sweden and WB.
Lauding Bangladesh's role in the health sector, WB Country Director Ellen Goldstein said, “Bangladesh halved the under-five mortality rate since 1990.
“Today over 80 percent children are fully vaccinated. Maternal mortality rate has declined by 40 percent between 2001 and 2010.”
USAID Bangladesh Mission Director Richard Greene attended the press briefing.
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