The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$10 million to assist the Government of Mauritania in the implementation of the human resource development pillar of its poverty reduction strategy paper.

The overall objective of the Health and Nutrition Support Project is to strengthen the health system and its capacity to improve the health and nutrition status of the population, particularly women, children and the poor.

The project will further develop human resources in the health sector supporting training of health sector personnel, and strengthening the management of healthcare workers.  The project will also focus on adequate health sector financing and an equitable allocation of resources for the poor and underserved areas.  It will strengthen measures to ensure affordability of health services, and increase utilization of services by the poorest and most vulnerable. Finally, the project will improve access to quality and affordable health services in underserved areas and enhance and expand community-based communications for improved nutrition.

“The Health and Nutrition Support Project will support the implementation of the National Health and Social Action Policy 2005-2015 (NHSAP), and the National Nutrition Development Policy 2005-2010 (NNDP).  The Bank’s assistance to the country remains, therefore, essential to foster progress in the health and nutrition sectors and sustain efforts to provide equitable services to the under-served,” said Astrid Helgeland-Lawson, the World Bank Task Team Leader of the project.

“We will maintain an emphasis on prevention, behavioral changes conducive to health and nutritional improvements. The program also will increase community participation to render health providers more responsive to the needs of the population,” Helgeland-Lawson added

* The credit is provided on standard International Development Association (IDA) terms, with a commitment fee of 0.35 percent, a service charge of 0.75 percent over a 40 year period of maturity which includes a 10-year grace period.