The World Bank today approved a total of $134,9 million to assist Madagascar in expanding pandemic preparedness across all sectors and improving the quality of basic health care. The project is supported by a $50 million IDA credit, a $50 million IDA grant, two grants totaling $32 million from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF), $15 million to maintain and protect essential health services and support the rollout of COVID-19 tools, and $2.9 million from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund.
To achieve its objectives, the project will promote the One Health Approach, which integrates other sectors and key institutions (education, decentralization, and public service) in the implementation of health financial and human resource reforms. One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary strategy for obtaining optimal health outcomes at the local, regional, national, and global levels by acknowledging humans, animals, and plants’ interconnectedness with their shared ecosystem.
“It is critical to capitalize on the momentum created by the COVID-19 crisis to build a stronger and more resilient health system capable of detecting and responding to health crises, as well as to adopt a “One Health” approach,” said Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank country manager for Madagascar. As a result, Madagascar will be able to endure future shocks while protecting its most vulnerable population from its negative consequences.
Since the outbreak, critical health services like routine vaccines, safe deliveries, and family planning have been consistently and significantly delayed in Madagascar, risking years of progress. The initiative would safeguard essential health services by investing in health systems and assuring access to vital services such as family planning and routine immunization, in addition to addressing pressing requirements for disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness.
This type of investment would also improve the resilience and performance of fundamental health services by improving primary health care facilities’ autonomy, financing, and accountability, the availability of health workers at the local level, and the financial accessibility of these services to the poorest.
“The Global Financing Facility is pleased to continue partnering with the World Bank and the Government of Madagascar to target the most vulnerable women and children and ensure they have access to the services they demand,” said Monique Vledder, the GFF’s Head of Secretariat. Madagascar may be able to speed its recovery and make it more equal through strengthening primary health care systems and community service delivery capabilities, as well as implementing COVID-19 programs.”
The program helps to carry out the National Action Plan for Health Security 2020–24, the National Strategic Plan for Public Health Surveillance, and the Investment Case for reproductive, maternal, neonatal, adolescent, and child health.
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, provides grants and low- or no-interest loans to the world’s poorest countries for projects and programs that promote economic growth, alleviate poverty, and improve the lives of the poor.
The International Development Association (IDA) provides major assistance to the world’s 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. IDA resources benefit the 1,3 billion people who live in IDA nations. Since 1960, the IDA has given $458 billion to 114 different nations. Annual pledges have averaged more than $29 billion over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with more than 70% going to Africa.
The Global Financing Facility (GFF) of the World Bank is a multi-stakeholder collaboration that funds country-led programs to improve the health of women, children, and adolescents. Countries are making smarter, more prioritized, and results-focused investments through the Global Financing Facility to have a greater impact on the health, nutrition, and well-being of women, children, and adolescents; building capacity for more sustainable funding for this agenda; and exploring more innovative ways to collaborate with the private sector. Since the GFF’s inception in 2015, partner countries have made remarkable progress in improving maternal and child health.