By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA
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THE World Bank has given Zambia US$67 million to improve health delivery systems in the country.
The World Bank Board of directors approved a $52 million International Development Agreement credit and $15 million grant to help Zambia improve its health delivery systems and utilisation of maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition services.
The project would directly benefit about 1.2 million women of reproductive age including pregnant and lactating mothers.
It would also benefit about 1.1 million under-five children.

World Bank Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe Kundhavi Kadiresan said the project would specifically support side interventions such as improving the availability of skilled healthcare.
“The project will specifically support supply side interventions such as improving the availability of skilled care, increasing the availability of health and nutrition commodities, strengthening referral linkages through results-based approaches, and institutional capacity building,” Dr Kadiresan said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
She said the project aimed at supporting Government’s efforts to accelerate progress towards Maternal and Child Health Millennium Development Goals.
It would also support the country to be better prepared in tackling emerging challenges, especially non-communicable diseases.
It would also be expected to strengthen service delivery, while focusing on results and reducing inequities, particularly in Zambia’s five low-performing, poorer and underserved provinces of Western, North-Western, Northern, Muchinga and Luapula.
Task team leader of the project, NetsanetWalelign Workie said the project focused on broadening sharing of social and health services to the poor and under-served.
“It will enhance Government’s health sector vision of equity of access to assured quality, cost-effective and affordable health services as close to the family as possible,” he said.