The IsDB and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) have launched a five-year US$48.4 million health initiative in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Chad Ministry of Health.
The initiative, titled ‘Strengthening of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services’, seeks to reduce the mortality and morbidity rate in the region.
“This new five-year activity will be implemented across Ennedi Est, Mandoul and Salama provinces as well as the catchment areas of the Abeche and Bangor provincial hospitals, reaching out to 6,298,764 inhabitants,” a statement from the IsDB read.
According to the IsDB, the initiative will train over 300 healthcare personnel in emergency obstetrical and neonatal care as well as integrated management of childhood illnesses.
In May 2023 on the sidelines of the IsDB Group annual meetings, the second phase of the LLF was launched with a primary focus on healthcare, agriculture and basic infrastructure. The fund has a target size of US$500 million.
With 95% of the LLF resources targeted toward 33 of the least developed member countries and lower-middle income member countries of the IsDB, Chad is eligible for 35% of the grant portion of the fund.
While infant mortality has been improving in Chad with a steady decrease in mortality rates from the 1970s, the Chadian authorities are continuing to prioritize the issue.
In 1972, the infant mortality rate stood at 129 deaths per 1,000 live births according to World Bank data.
The latest data revealed that the infant mortality rate in Chad stood at 66 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021.
According to the Chadian authorities, the project seeks to contribute to the government’s goal to make health services more accessible to its citizens, particularly in the canton of Africa.
The MCH project was designed for the 27 new health facilities in the region. With infrastructure upgrades, the facilities seek to increase the percentage of women attending antenatal care visits from 25% to 60%.
The initiative further seeks to increase the capacity of health facilities to deliver complete emergency obstetric and neonatal care to 100% from its current 33% capacity. It also hopes to bring the percentage of children immunized to over 80%.