IDB Grants to Fund National Health Services Strategic Plan and Sustainable Energy Projects In Bahamas
CANCUN, Mexico – Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham signed grants from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) totaling $1.4 million Sunday, March 21 for the establishment of a National Health Services Strategic Plan and the implementation of sustainable energy projects. The signing of the grant agreements took place at the 2010 Annual IDB-IIC Meeting in Cancun.
The IDB will provide a $400,000 grant for the Health programme, and a $1,000,000 grant for the implementation of sustainable energy projects.
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham Prime Minister and Minister of Finance issued the following statement:
I thank President Moreno and the Bank for partnering with The Bahamas on these important initiatives. The Bank continues to provide development support to The Bahamas. Indeed, the signing of this two grants is another manifestation of this fact.
The health sector is a vital component of my Government’s overall plan for the advancement of the people of The Bahamas. The National Health Services Strategic Plan 2010 – 2020 will ensure that we develop a well-articulated and measured approach to advancing health services in The Bahamas. This agreement will assist the Ministry of Health in identifying the technical and institutional investments necessary to support our long term achievement of universal health coverage. And, it will support the development of a strategic approach to the deployment and use of Information Technology solutions in the healthcare system.
As The Bahamas grows our need for energy increases. This sustainable energy project will promote and support the use of renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiencies.
Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, left, and Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno sign grant agreements totalling $1.4 million dollars for the development of a National Health Services Strategic Plan and the implementation of sustainable energy projects in The Bahamas.
This project will assist The Bahamas in achieving energy efficiencies in public buildings and in residential and commercial buildings. The project will focus on phasing-out incandescent lights and replacing them with Compact Fluorescent Lamps and on the installation of Solar Water Heater systems in residential accommodations.
It will also assist in exploring renewable energy alternatives and in the implementation of pilot demonstration projects, support my Government’s review of energy legislation, regulatory and policy issues and finance two pilot/demonstration projects, one involving the installation of solar Photovoltaic Generators on Buildings and another involving the installation of Solar Water Heaters in representative parts of The Bahamas.
It is my hope that Inter-American Development Bank continues to partner with The Bahamas in areas of the environment, health, education and infrastructure that are critical to our continued growth and development.
