Support of Basic Health Care Services in the Operational District of Kirivong

Context

Statement

The Asian Bank for Development (BAD) supports development programmes in five Cambodian provinces through loans designed for the development of basic health care services. Four organisations have signed contracts with the BAD in 3 provinces (Save the Children Australia in the Kampong Cham province, AMDA and E&D in Takeo, HealthNet in Prey Veng) to take over the management and administration of an operational health district. The Ministry of Health operates similarly in other so called "control" districts.

The contract that binds E&D to the Ministry of Health, in short, consists in running the existing system put into place by the Cambodian government, rather than changing it. The existing regulations and national protocols must be respected and the means at the disposal of the OD on behalf of the government (budget, supplies, medicine, services and personnel) also. The separation between the District budget and the budget of the contracting party is strict and explicit. The sums at the disposal of E&D are to be used only to fulfill its role as administrator and manager.

Two other sub-projects are complimentary to the actions undertaken in the framework of the BHSP:

- The improvement of the quality of performance of staff of 8 health care centres, with particular attention to relations between patients and personnel, particularly in the area of maternal and infantile protection.

- The improvement of hygienic and nutritional practices in the most underprivileged households and the establishment of equity funds managed by pagodas (free medical care for the poorest families).

Objectives

- Improve the state of health of the population through the creation of 3 district hospitals and 25 communal health care centres;

- Train the staff of these health care structures;

- Facilitate access to treatment for rural populations and provide the staff with the technical and material means to cater to the needs of patients and treat them;

- Improve the hygiene and nutrition of people responsible for children suffering from malnutrition and of the children themselves;

- Improve access to treatment and prevention for vulnerable households through the creation of an equity fund that will be maintained and managed by pagodas.

Location
Operational district (sanitary district) of Kirivong, Takeo province, South of Cambodia (3H from Phnom-Penh by road).

Beneficiaries

- 210 000 people living in the operational district of Kirivong;

- Staff of the health structures of the district.

Local partners:

- Cambodian Health Ministry;

- Health Department, Takéo Province .

Project duration

Initially planned for 3 years (1999-2002), the programme was extended until the end of April 2004.

Funding

Asian Bank for Development (BAD), private funding

Staff

Expatriates: 4 people (a project manager, a community development expert, and an accountant)