World Bank provides $90m to improve health care access and quality in Chad

CHAD – The World Bank has approved a US$90 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Chad improve the use and quality of delivery of essential health services.

Particular attention will be paid to reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, as well as to nutrition services in all health districts in the eight provinces supported by the project.

The Health System Performance Strengthening Project (PRPSS) aims to build the capacity of Chad’s health system to offer quality health care at the operational level and increase the use of health services by populations in the project areas.

“While considerable efforts have focused on the COVID-19 response in Chad, there is a significant risk of weakening the health system and undermining the response to the population’s other health needs,” said Clara Ana Coutinho de Sousa, World Bank Country Director for Chad.

World Bank intends to provide an adequate response through the Health System Performance Strengthening Project, by using its operational tools and working closely with the government and the other partners.

This new project, the total cost of which is US$106.5 million with US$16.5 million in co-financing from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Women, Children and Adolescents, will help improve the quality of health services in a many ways.

Mechanisms such as providing free maternal and child health care services as well as institutionalizing performance-based financing (PBF), will help improve regulation, leadership and stewardship, governance, coordination and the separation of roles.

The fund will also institute allocation of resources directly to health facilities in proportion to the quality and quantity of the health services offered to the population, paying performance bonuses to the staff and concluding performance contracts with health fraternities.

“This project will address two drivers of fragility: it will improve the flow of funds to health centers and district and provincial hospitals, and will promote the accountability of health facilities and decision-making that is closer to the communities, as well as ensure that resources are used more effectively and efficiently. Health services in the country’s underserved regions will therefore help reduce social exclusion in the provinces,” said Rasit Pertev, World Bank Country Manager for Chad. 

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