Announcement of Cameroon Health, Fertility and Nutrition Project on March 7, 1995

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.* Telephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 95/3 6 Contact: Eric Chinje Tel:(202) 473-4467 Cameroon Health, Fertility and Nutrition Project The following is information on a project approved by the World Bank's Board. DATE: March 7, 1995 WORLD BANK GROUP SUPPORT: International Development Association (IDA) credit: $43.0 million (SDR $29.5 million). The IDA credit is for 40 years, including 10 years of grace; it carries no interest but has an annual charge of 0.75 percent on the disbursed balance and a variable charge of up to 0.5 percent (currently zero percent) on the undisbursed balance. TOTAL COST: $48.1 million. OTHER PROPOSED FINANCING: Government of Cameroon: $5.0 million; other agency: $0.1 million. IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Ministry of Public Health. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2001. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objectives of the Health, Fertility and Nutrition Project are to (a) provide institutional support for continued development of the national population policy and rapid implementation of a national family planning and information, education and communication (IEC) strategy; (b) promote complementary organizational and administrative reforms needed to strengthen the management of health sector resources, and to advance the decentralization of health services; and (c) expand the coverage of primary health care (PHC) to currently underserved low-income populations, and improve the quality of services delivered. The project includes (a) assistance in the development and implementation of the National Population Policy and Family Planning/IEC strategy by supporting the activities of the National Population Commission, and improving demographic data collection and dissemination for population policy-making and operations; (b) organizational and administrative reforms of the Ministry of Public Health to strengthen the management of health sector resources and promote decentralizaton of health services by supporting the strengthening of MOPH's health services and management structures, and developing health management information systems; and (c) Archives/Records Center, H B1-001 ( 1) expansion of primary health care decentralization of health services coverage and improvement in the quality of health service delivery by supporting PHC services through (i) decentralized health districts, (ii) improving family planning, maternal and child health care services and (iii) strengthening nutrition interventions. the quality of service delivery will be assured by (i)strengthening training and retraining of health personnel at all levels of the system, including community health workers for outreach activities, (ii) supplying essential generic drugs, vaccines, and contraceptives to public health facilities, and (iii) strengthening the Health Education Unit of MOPH and expanding communication programs through IEC.