The World Bank has approved a total of US$40 million for Cameroon to improve the availability and quality of health services in the northern regions, (Adamaoua, North and Far-North) in addition to the four previous regions, with a particular focus on child and maternal health, and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.

The bank said in a recent statement that out of the US$ 40 million, US$ 20 million are under the form of a grant and US$ 20 million credit. “About 5.3 million people will benefit from the project, especially women of reproductive age, teenage girls and children under 5-years-old,” the statement read.

The bank pressed the funds will help scale-up the project activities in the 26 districts currently implementing Performance Based Financing (PBF), which provide payments to health clinics and community health workers based on the quantity and quality of the services delivered. An ongoing PBF impact evaluation will be completed and the results will assist the Government to fine tune a PBF national strategy.

“The performance-based financing approach used in the project will increase the coverage and quality of key maternal and child health services in Cameroon, and make the country's health systems more efficient, and more accountable,” said Gregor Binkert, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon.

“The health facilities with PBF contracts will in turn provide more and better care for marginalized populations, particularly women and children, and also improve medical waste management in the country.”

Meanwhile the remaining US$20 million credit from the International Development Association approved on June 24 will help the ongoing Cameroon Health Sector Support Project extend its implementation period as well as expand its coverage to poor families living in rural areas in northern Cameroon.