USAID/Nicaragua: Improving Health, Education and Family Welfare in Nicaragua

Improving Health, Education and Family Welfare in Nicaragua

U.S. and Nicaraguan Governments Officially Launch PRONICASS Project

Photo: The project was officially launched at a ceremony with the participation of U.S. Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli, Nicaragua’s Health Minister Margarita Gurdian, Minister of the Family Ligia Teran, General Secretary of the Ministry of Education Tulio Taboada and USAID Acting Director Carol Horning. USAID’s $13.8 million PRONICASS project, which began in Sept. 2005 and will continue through Sept. 2009, will help improve the health, education and welfare of the Nicaraguan population by assisting the social sector ministries in reorganizing administration, establishing monitoring systems and norms, and improving planning and budgeting in order to maximize limited resources. The project provides assistance for results-based budgeting, procurement information systems, and continuous quality improvement. It will help institutionalize policies that broaden citizen and private sector participation in health and education systems.

The project was officially launched at a ceremony with the participation of U.S. Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli, Nicaragua’s Health Minister Margarita Gurdian, Minister of the Family Ligia Teran, General Secretary of the Ministry of Education Tulio Taboada and USAID Acting Director Carol Horning.

Health Minister Margarita Gurdian thanked USAID for its support and emphasized that PRONICASS is a follow-on to the continuous assistance received from the U.S. government for the construction and equipping of schools and health centers and the training of personnel. The minister noted that a well-trained staff and improved management systems are vital to ensuring quality health, education and welfare services.

“The U.S. government believes that investment in the health and education of Nicaragua’s people is just as important as investments in the economy. Competing in a globalized economy requires a healthy, educated population. And as the economy grows there will be more resources available for providing quality social services,” said Ambassador Trivelli.

In 2006 and 2007, the project will focus on 200 health facilities and 85 primary schools in 32 municipalities in the departments of Boaco, Nueva Segovia, Chinandega and the RAAS. During the third and fourth year, the program will be expanded nationwide.

PRONICASS will also continue to expand the use of a monitoring system, introduced by USAID and now used in 75% of all health units nationwide, that contributed to a 25% increase in prenatal care, 20% increase in infant immunization and a 30% increase in infant growth monitoring.