INTRODUCTION
The World Bank Malaria Global Strategy and Booster Program is a 5 year plan with 3-years intensive phase to support Malaria Control activities in countries suffering heavy burden of the disease. The program supports identified gaps in countries strategic plans. US$600-700 million have been earmarked for the intensive phase in Africa through aggressive vector control and case management.US$180million have been earmarked for Nigeria.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In August 2005, the Honourable Minister of Health wrote a letter to the World Bank sequel to President Obasanjo’s request for support in scaling up and strengthening malaria Control Efforts in Nigeria under the world Bank Malaria Global Strategy and Booster Program. In the letter the Honourable Minister requested support from the World Bank to the tune of US$ 180 million.
The Bank considered the request and constituted a Team of expert led by Mrs. Eva Jarawan (Lead Health Specialist) to engage with the Nigeria team and discuss details of the requested Bank support, and to develop a project preparation timetable.
A Nigeria Project Preparation Team made of NMCP staff and RBM Technical Partners in country was also constituted under the leadership of Dr. T.O Sofola (National Co-coordinator, NMCP) with Dr. S. O. Oyeniyi as the focal person.
The Bank Team made several mission trips to Nigeria from 2005 -2006 which led to the Project Preparatory Facilities. Other activities carried out during the mission included:
A request for duty exemption on the commodities was sent, by the Honourable Minister of Health, to the ministry of finance. Response of the ministry of finance is still awaited.
Based on identified criteria, 7 were selected for the take off of the project. Other will then come on board subsequently. The selected are Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Anambra Rivers and Akwa Ibom State.
APPRAISAL
The World Bank Team appraisal mission took place from July 11 – 27, 2006. During the mission the project documents was finalized, consultation with the participating was furthered and financial arrangements were streamlined. Three were visited during this mission to finalize arrangements for the project at the state level. The visited were Bauchi, Gombe and Rivers.
PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES TOWARDS EFFECTIVENESS
Procurement plans for the Project Preparatory Facility for the first 18 months of the Project was developed.
Baseline survey completed in the 7 selected and 2 control (Kaduna and Delta )
Negotiation with a video conference with World Bank Office in Washington , USA was held on the 27th October ,2006. at World Bank Office Asokoro, Abuja.It was chaired by Prof S. Monye , Director,International Economic Relation , Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
Signing of the Negotiation documents was carried out on 28th November,2006.
World Bank Board approved the Project on 20th December, 2006.
The Honourable Minister of Health inaugurated the National Project Steering Committee on 22ND Tuesday February, 2007.The board has met two times and had approved the following documents: