WB to provide $20crore for housing, health projects

Staff Correspondent: The World Bank (WB) will provide the government a soft loan of $20 crore to support its efforts for further development of the country`s health and housing sectors.

The multi-donor development partner will sign two separate financing agreements with the government this noon (Thursday) to provide the funds, which will support various projects in the health and housing sectors.

 Under an agreement, the WB will provide $5 crore to support the "Low Income Community Housing Support Project". The objective of the project is to improve shelter and living conditions in selected low income and informal settlements in designated municipalities.

Under the second agreement, the WB will provide additional funding of $15 crore to help strengthen the country`s health system and improve health services, particularly for the poor.

The additional financing to the Health Sector Development Programme of the government will continue to support implementation of the Health Sector-wide Programme.

The support will help the government address health sector challenges including sustaining and improving immunization coverage, improving deliveries for pregnant women at public health facilities, and tackling multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Risingbd/DHAKA/June 30, 2016/Hasan/Mukul