The support of the World Bank is being sought to fund a project valued at some G$1billion that will develop the entomological services of the public health sector.
Essentially, the financial support from the World Bank, once forthcoming, will cater to the training of health and social workers to provide psychosocial support for families with risk of Zika abnormalities to their new-born.
World Bank and Public Health officials in discussion.
The project, moreover, also entails the development of ultrasound techniques to identify foetuses with microcephaly and strengthening the capacity of communities nationwide to control breeding sites of vectors in their areas using innovative techniques.
Key officials of the Ministry of Public Health were able to engage officials of the World Bank on funding for the project. However, the project is yet to gain Cabinet’s approval.
“We hope that health is a priority in the next four years for the Guyanese government,” said Mr. David Dulitzky of the World Bank when he met with Public Health officials. Dulitzky is the Manager of Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice of the World Bank.
He explained that the Bank meets quadrenially to consider funding public health projects, such as the kind proposed by the public health sector.
Speaking for his other colleagues, Neesha Harnam, Health Specialist, Health, Nutrition and Population and Carmen Carpio, Senior Operations Officer, Dulitzky said, “we hope the Ministry of Finance finds these agreed programme of work attractive.”
The Finance Ministry was expected to be engaged about the project on Friday last.
According to Dulitzky, the funding from the World Bank is critical since “exposure to vector borne diseases has an economic cost and the World Bank is very concerned about the ability of countries’ preparedness to manage health emergencies.”