Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia were expected to benefit from the fund.
The international lender said in a statement that the funds would help “strengthen these countries’ health systems”.
Got a boost
“Southern Africa’s capacity to mount an effective regional response to tuberculosis and occupational lung diseases today got a boost following the World Bank Group’s Board approval of a $122 million project to support efforts in tackling the scourge of TB in four of its affected countries Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia,” said a statement.
“The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project will target mining communities, regions with high burdens of TB or HIV/Aids, transport corridors and cross-border areas of the four target countries. It also promotes the use of best-buy interventions and facilitates innovations and learning across countries.”
No exception
Zambia’s Health minister Joseph Kasonde was quoted as saying: “With emerging global disease threats, the project will help our countries and region, to respond more effectively to other public health emergencies in addition to TB.”
Accounting for a third of the world’s 22 countries with highest TB burdens, southern Africa is at the epicentre of the dual epidemic of TB and HIV/Aids, said the bank.
It said Zambia, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique were no exception with high levels of TB/HIV co-infections and related mortality as well as increased risk of multidrug-resistant TB against a background of large-scale or growing mining sectors which is a contributor to this health challenge.
“Southern Africa’s capacity to mount an effective regional response to tuberculosis and occupational lung diseases today got a boost following the World Bank Group’s Board approval of a $122 million project to support efforts in tackling the scourge of TB in four of its affected countries Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia,” said a statement.
“The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project will target mining communities, regions with high burdens of TB or HIV/Aids, transport corridors and cross-border areas of the four target countries. It also promotes the use of best-buy interventions and facilitates innovations and learning across countries.”
No exception
Zambia’s Health minister Joseph Kasonde was quoted as saying: “With emerging global disease threats, the project will help our countries and region, to respond more effectively to other public health emergencies in addition to TB.”
Accounting for a third of the world’s 22 countries with highest TB burdens, southern Africa is at the epicentre of the dual epidemic of TB and HIV/Aids, said the bank.
It said Zambia, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique were no exception with high levels of TB/HIV co-infections and related mortality as well as increased risk of multidrug-resistant TB against a background of large-scale or growing mining sectors which is a contributor to this health challenge.
Africa Review
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