Announcement of Colombia to Integrate Basic Health Care Services on August 1, 1985

I FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 86/14 Contact: Ciro Gamarra August 1, 1985 (202) 477-5320 COLOMBIA TO INTEGRATE BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES Colombia is set to start a project to improve the health conditions of some 3.7 million people who currently lack access to basic health care. The World Bank is supporting the project with a loan of $36.5 million. The six-year project will expand primary health care services to the urban and rural poor in 19 areas in the departments of Antioquia, Cauca, Cordoba, Choco, Narino, Santander, Valle de Cauca and in the territories of Amazonas and Putumayo. The project will focus on children under five years old and women of childbearing age. The project, the first in Colombia's health sector to be assisted by the World Bank, includes the construction and equipping of three local hospitals, seven health centers, and 53 health posts. Eight regional hospitals, 29 local hospitals, 27 health centers, and 53 health posts will be remodelled or upgraded. Hospital maintenance workshops will be expanded and training will be provided to maintenance technicians as well as to all health staff. About 1,200 health workers will be recruited. Piped water supply systems will be established or rehabilitated in some 250 rural communities and sanitary facilities will be built in 250 rural schools. Technical assistance and training will be provided to the National Institute of Health in areas of basic rural sanitation. And a national rural water supply plan will be prepared. A management information system will be established to assist management decision-making in the sector. Technical assistance and equipment will be provided to support the National Institute of Health's laboratory network. The project aims at integrating the provision of efficient health care services in the country. People living in the area covered by the project are expected to benefit from reduced mortality and morbidity, and improved use of family planning services. Environmental health hazards will be reduced with the establishment of water supply and waste disposal systems. . ,;.~/ . ·.:~ ;..'', ··of $75.8 million. Funding of $20.2 from suppliers' credits, $5.1 < '.· 5 million from user fees. The ncluding 4-1/2 years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently pe linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on undisbursed balances. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.