Kathmandu, February 9:

Giri Raj Mani Pokharel, Minister for Health and Population, today said the signatories to the International Health Partnership and Related Initiatives (IHP+) have agreed to extend financial assistance to Nepal to improve the health system.

He added that the ministerial review that took place in Geneva exchanged views on early achievements, remaining obstacles and potential opportunities to accelerate progress in health sector.

Pokharel informed that the World Bank had created a “Health Systems for the Health Millennium Development Goals” programme to fund and implement a regular country-led health sector programme in Nepal.

He claimed that the ministry was planning for specific plan of action to meeting the millennium development goals in health sector. He said that the World Bank would provide assistance to Nepal from 2009 to 2011 and added that those donors that have not signed in the document were also positive to support health programmes in Nepal.

He claimed that significant steps were taken during the meeting, particularly for increasing support to multi sectoral national health and AIDS plans in Ethiopia, Nepal, and Mozambique. Pokharel added that the IHP+ has also encouraged all development partners to join and seek engagement of EU member states, the USA and Japan in Nepal’s health programme in 2009.

He said that $30 billion was proposed to take initiative for the health system improvement in Nepal and that they were introducing a special package in Karnali and Bajura.