World Bank supports disease prevention and control in Armenia

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$35 million credit for the Disease Prevention and Control Project in Armenia. The project will support the Government of Armenia in improving maternal and child health services, and the prevention, early detection, and management of selected non-communicable diseases at the primary health care level,as well asthe efficiency and quality of selected hospitals in Armenia.

Despite structural and organizational reforms, the health care system is still struggling to catch up with the epidemiological changes in morbidity and mortality patterns. The greatest burden of disease in Armenia, as in most European countries, comes from non-communicable diseases, a group of conditions that includes cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health problems, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and musculoskeletal conditions. Based on the statistical data, around 50 percent of all deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases and 74 percent are due to combined cases (cardiovascular, neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus). Non-communicable disease challenges require action at different levels: prevention, behavioral change, early detection, and adoption of cost-effective treatments.

The project’s main beneficiaries would be the Armenian population who would benefit from improvedmaternal and child health services; prevention, screening and management of selected non-communicable disease risk factors and conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cervical cancer; as well as improved hospital services. Health care providers would also benefit from the performance-based incentives. The project would promote positive health outcomes for both women and men, as well as for infants, children, working age adults, and senior citizens.

Total financing of the project is US$45 million, of which the Government of Armenia will provide US$8.2 million. The Health Results Innovation Trust Fund (HRITF)will contribute grant funding in the amount of US$1.8 million. The World Bank credit of US$35 million will be provided on standard blend IDA terms at a fixed interest rate of 1.25 percent per annum with a maturity of 25 years and a 5 year grace period.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the commitments to Armenia total approximately US$1,704,600 million.