Sri Lanka - Health Services Project

Report No. PIC2825 Project Name Sri Lanka-Health Services Project Region South Asia Sector Health Project ID LKPA10526 Implementing Agency The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ministry of Health, Highways and Social Services Colombo, Sri Lanka Contact: Dr. R.C. Rajapakse, Project Coordinator, MOHHSS Tel/Fax: 94 1 687-015 Date Prepared October 30, 1995 Projected Board Date April 1996 1. Project Objectives. The objectives of the project are to improve the health and nutritional status of the people of Sri Lanka, particularly of women and children, and to support the introduction of agreed policy measures that would contribute to more efficient and effective use of increasingly scarce resources. 2. Project Description. These objectives would be accomplished through: (i) a nutrition component to reduce surprisingly high levels of malnutrition in infants and young children using an education/information approach; (ii) a malaria component in support of a revised malaria control strategy following WHO guidelines; (iii) an STD/HIV/AIDS and reproductive health component to support strengthening and full integration of STD/HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment with ongoing health and family planning programs; and (iv) a health policy component that would support a program of studies and pilot initiatives developed with the Government to address changes in the health system resulting from a changing disease profile as life expectancy increases and from the increasing importance of the private sector. In addition, a small component to support a pilot non-communicable diseases program may be included in the project. 3. Project Implementation. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Health, Highways & Social Services. Under Sri Lanka's recent provincialization, responsibility for many aspects of health services has been decentralized to the provincial health departments, which will therefore be involved in the implementation of all components to some extent. NGOs will play especially significant roles in the implementation of the STD/HIV/AIDS, nutrition and non-communicable diseases components. 4. Project Costs. Project costs are expected to be approximately US$ million. 5. Environmental Aspects. No adverse impact on the environment is expected from this project. Contact Point: Public Information Center The World Bank 1818 H Street N.W. Washington D.C. 20433 Telephone No.: (202)458-5454 Fax No.: (202)522-1500 Note: This is information on an evolving project. Certain components may not necessarily be included in the final project. -2 -