Announcement of Tunisia to Receive World Bank Loan for Health and Population Project on June 1, 1981

'fOR IMMEDiA TE RELEASE . - . •World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telepho,:ie: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 81/106 ~une 1, 1981 TUNISIA TO RECEIVE WORLD BANK LOAN FOR HEALTH AND POPULATION PROJECT The World Bank hai approved a $12.5 mill ion loan to Tunisia for a project to exiend basic health care, nutrition, and family planning services to the rural poor in eight governorates. The $41 mill ion project is designed to improve the efficiency of the Ministry of Public Health; expand the basic health care delivery system and facilities in the governorates of Jendouba, Le Kef, Beja, Zaghouan, Kairouan, Mehdia, Sousse, and Monastir; intensify national education programs in health, nutrition and population; and improve the training and deployment of health personne 1. Funds from the World Bank loan will be used for the con~cruction or remodelling, equipping,and furnishing of about 140 health posts, 325 dispensaries, • 90 staff houses, two regional health education centers, six paramedical schools, and eight vehicle maintenance workshops. Additional transportation facilities and laboratory equipment wi 11 also be supplied to the 21 district hospitals in the project area. The Ministry of Public Health will receive technical assistance in training paramedical personnel, and in public health planning, management, budgeting, and project monitoring. Computer equipment and additional staff will also be provided to help establish and maintain up-dated health, nutrition, and demographic statistics. At full development, the project will affect 2.25 mill ion people, including 700,000 persons in rural areas, who now have no access to health care. The qualified health personnel serving in the area wi 11 be increased by an additional 20 physicians, 100 high-level technicians and specialized nurses, and 400 regular nurses. The project is expected to reduce the gap between urban and rural health services and facilities, encourage the development of preventive medicine, improve nutrition, and provide better family planning information and services. The World Bank loan to the Republic of Tunisia is for 17 years, including four years of grace, with interest at 9.6% per annum. • NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents: FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I CAL DA T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: Health and Population Tunisia $41 mi 11 ion • TOTAL COST: BANK FI NANC I NG : $12.5 mill ion, for 17 years, including four years of grace, with interest at 9.6% per annum OTHER FINANCING: Government of Tunisia, $28.S mill ion IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministere de la Sante Publique Tunis, Tunisia TX: 12235 SANTE TN PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will include: (a) the prov1s1on of equipment and supporting staff and services to the Ministry of Public Health; (b) the construction and/or remodelling, equipping, and furnishing of about 140 health posts, 325 dispensaries, 90 staff houses, 2 regional health education centers, • 6 paramedical school~, and 8 vehicle maintenance workshops; (c) additional equipment for 21 district hospitals; (d) the provision of appropriate transportation facilities; and (e) technical assistance in support of all project components. PROCU.REMENT: Contracts for civi 1 works wi 11 be awarded on the bas is of locally advertised competitive bidding, which will permit the participation of foreign contractors. Wherever possible, contracts for furniture equipment and vehicles will be grouped in packages of at least $50,000, and will be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding. Contracts for less than $50,000 will be awarded after locally advertised bidding. For bid evaluation purposes, a 15% margin of preference or the actual customs duties, whichever is lower, will be allowed for equipment, furniture, vehic1es,and materials manufactured in Tunisia. CONSULTANTS: Consultant servicer required wi11 be the following: one specialist each in management, health planning, and curri- culum development (seven man-years), one architect, and two site supervisors to assist in building construction (10 man-years) and about 100 man-months of studies and applied research. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: n.a. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1986 • - 0 -