Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 12/27/2004

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CONTENT:

1 - ANGOLA: World Bank approves US $21 million for health project

1 - ANGOLA: World Bank approves US $21 million for health project

JOHANNESBURG, 22 December (PLUSNEWS) - The World Bank has approved a grant

of US $21 million to Angola for implementing an HIV/AIDS, Malaria and

Tuberculosis (TB) Control Project.

The project aims at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB

through a multisectoral approach that strengthens institutional capacity;

increases access to and utilisation of health services; prevents infection

and improves treatment and recovery rates.

HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria account for 75 percent of all deaths from

infectious diseases in Angola. Malaria is the leading cause of mortality,

accounting for 8,756 deaths per year in an average 2.1 million cases of

infection in a population of 12.8 million.

Angola emerged from 30 years of war in 2002 with its health system badly

damaged and an estimated 65 percent of its primary health centres out of

service, a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 1,300 per 100,000 live births,

and an infant mortality rate (IMR) of 195 per 1,000 live births.

" The HIV epidemic is spreading, with prevalence in adults aged 15 to 49

estimated to be 5.5 percent, or 350,000 adults, and some studies in urban

prenatal clinics have shown rates close to 10 percent. TB incidence has

increased over the past decade, paralleling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, " the

World Bank said.

These epidemics could have devastating effects on Angola's economy, said

the Bank. " Studies have shown that an HIV/AIDS epidemic can reduce GDP

[gross domestic product] by up to one percent per year. The effect of

malaria has been estimated to be as much as 1.3 percent GDP reduction per

year. "

" The government has requested World Bank's financial and technical

assistance to implement its plan to combat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, and

other health objectives linked to the objectives of the Millennium

Development Goals, " said Jacques de St Antoine, the World Bank task

team leader for the project.

" The government is showing commitment through a number of concrete

actions, including ongoing initiatives to monitor and prevent the spread

of infectious diseases, " he added.

The programme will help coordinate responses from various sectors of

society. Assistance will be provided to civil society organisations,

communities, NGOs, and faith-based organisations, to ensure the

implementation of sub-projects to prevent and mitigate the effects of the

three diseases.

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