World Bank loan US$118 million to Improve Health Systems in Tamil Nadu

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World Bank Provides US$118 million to Improve Health Systems in Tamil Nadu,

India

WASHINGTON, DC, April 29, 2010 ©¤ The World Bank today approved a US$117.70

million IDA credit to India, designed to improve quality of and access to health

services in the state of Tamil Nadu. This comes as additional financing to the

Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project which was approved on December 16, 2004 with

an IDA credit amount of US$110.83 million.

Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in improving the health status and

increasing access to health care services in the last decade. According to the

most recent National Family Health Survey (2005-2006), the state¡¯s infant

mortality rate dropped 35 percent since the previous survey (1998-1999).

These improvements are in part due to a significant increase in overall

vaccination coverage of children between 12 and 23 months.

The overall nutrition status of children under age 3 also has improved, with an

18 percent reduction in underweight children. The state¡¯s maternal mortality

ratio decreased from 167 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1999 to 111 deaths

per 100,000 live births in 2006[1].

¡°Tamil Nadu has made impressive progress in improving maternal and child

health, and further improvements would be achieved by improvement in the overall

quality of care, particularly for provision of comprehensive emergency obstetric

and neonatal care,¡± said Preeti Kudesia, World Bank Sr. Public Health

specialist and project team leader.

¡°The additional funding will support the continuation of successful activities,

and will particularly focus on improving the quality of health care provision.

The project will also enhance access to and utilization of health services by

the state¡¯s poor, remote, and tribal populations.¡±

Over the past four years, the project has helped establish 80 Comprehensive

Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Centers throughout the state, leading to

improved access and quality of care for pregnant women and infants. It has also

provided 385 ambulances, which have strengthened the Emergency Transport

Services in rural areas in Tamil Nadu. Health services in tribal areas of the

state have also improved through mobile outreach services and supporting sickle

cell anemia screening interventions and patient counseling services.

These well-performing programs supported by the original project that will be

scaled up include state-wide expansion of non-communicable disease prevention

and control activities, which are currently active in two districts in the

state. The additional financing will also support state-wide implementation of

hospital and health management information systems, and the strengthening and

monitoring of maternal and neonatal health services at the tertiary level.

The loan from the International Development Association (IDA) has a 35 year

maturity including a 10-year grace period.

For more project information:

http://www.worldbank.org.in/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627 & piPK=73230 & th\

eSitePK=295584 & menuPK=295616 & Projectid=P075058

Contacts:

In Delhi: Nandita Roy

91-11-41479220

nroy@...

In Washington: Nora (202) 458 4735

enora@...

[1] (Source for maternal mortality ratio is SRS ¨C Sample Registration System).