ADB helps Vietnam improve rural healthcare

ADB on June 22 announced that it has approved 60 million USD in loans  to help  Vietnam improve its health services, particularly in poor, remote communities which lack skilled workers and quality health facilities.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 22 announced that it has approved 60 million USD in loans for the Vietnam Health Human Resources Sector Development Programme to help the country improve its health services, particularly in poor, remote communities which lack skilled workers and quality health facilities.

The program is cofinanced with an 11 million USD grant from the Government of Australia.

According to the Manila-based financial institution, Vietnam has improved health standards significantly in recent years and is on track to meet sector-related Millennium Development Goals, but there are still gaps in access and quality of care between urban and rural areas and among regions.

''The Programme will improve health care services for the poor in remote communities by strengthening the capacity of health facilities, training institutions and health workers to serve their special needs,'' said Sjoerd Postma, Senior Health Specialist in ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, in a press release.

ADB has financed six health projects in Vietnam , but this is the first sector development programme.

The Ministry of Health is the executing agency for the programme, which is expected to be completed by December 2015./.

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