P. Paiwang Konyak, Minister for Health & Family Welfare Department, and Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, and a team of NHP met the Country Director, World Bank, Auguste Tano Kouame, on 19th May 2023 at World Bank Office, New Delhi.

The Minister thanked the World Bank for the support to Nagaland especially in the health sector where the Nagaland Health Project (NHP) was successfully implemented which is extended till 31st December 2023. Paiwang stated the issues and challenges in the health sector and appreciated the Bank for the successful implementation of the Nagaland Health Project as the improvements made under the project are visible.

He also highlighted that the funds received under various schemes from the GoI are mainly for specific programs, and the NHP’s funding could cater to the gaps not covered by other programs. He quoted “Health is a complex issue and it cannot be solved in a year or two but as steady progress is made, funding and assistance of Externally Aided Projects should continue”. He appealed to the World Bank to provide continuous support.

Kikheto Sema highlighted that Nagaland could not avail of enough EAPs as compared to the other States. He thanked the World Bank for funding the projects in Nagaland in the recent past in the sector of Health, Education and Agriculture & Allied activities. Kikheto stated the proposed new project of the Nagaland Health System Strengthening Project (NHSSP) is mainly to fill the gaps in the infrastructures of the Health Centers, Quarters for health workers, etc. The desire of the State Government to provide affordable, accessible health care to its citizens cannot be fulfilled without good infrastructure facilities. Sema, therefore, requested the World Bank to support the new project and stated that the partnership between the Government of Nagaland and the World Bank should continue.

Auguste Tano Kouame appreciated and congratulated the team on the successful implementation of the Nagaland Health Project. He further stated that although he has taken over as Country Director recently, he has been briefed about the successful implementation of the NHP and he thanked the Government of Nagaland, Department of Health & Family Welfare. With the successful implementation of the NHP, he stated that the Bank would be interested to support the new project of NHSSP and assured that the Bank would recommend the same to the GoI.

Auguste suggested that the proposed project could assist the state to generate fiscal revenue, mobilize private sector through PPP mode, and generate employment through pre-service training, etc. He further suggested conducting virtual meetings with other states and countries which are being funded under WB to showcase the good practices of the Nagaland Health Project.

(DIPR)