US commits $40 million grant for Bangladesh’s health sector

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The US Government (USG), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed US$40 million over the next five years to improve Bangladesh’s health outcomes.

The announcement, made at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Monday, marks the first grant agreement between USAID and the World Bank in Bangladesh that pools USG funds with those of other development partners, a US embassy press statement said. 

With this World Bank agreement, USAID joins the U.K’s Department of International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Canadian International Development Agency, Australian AID and the German Development Bank as pool funders in support of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s $7.6 billion Health Sector Development Program.

 

Joining this multi-donor fund is a significant opportunity for USAID to further align its program objectives with other development partners, provide direct support for the Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to improve the health of its citizens and advance President Obama’s Global Health Initiative, which is focused on improving maternal and child health, addressing infectious diseases of public health importance, and building health systems around the world.

The U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dan W. Mozena, and USAID Bangladesh Mission Director Richard Greene represented the U.S. Government at this event. 

Ms. Ellen Goldstein, Country Director, represented the World Bank.  Dr. AFM Ruhal Haque, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, was present on behalf of the Bangladesh government.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided over $5.8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971, including over $770 million in health-related funding. 

In 2011 alone, USAID provided more than $180 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh. USAID supports programs in Bangladesh that: promote democratic institutions and practices; expand food security and economic opportunity; improve health and education services; and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.

 

BBN/SSR/AD-09Apr12-8:10 pm (BST)