The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lend Vietnam $60 million to promote a health human resources development program in rural and remote areas from now up to 2015. ADB and the State Bank of Vietnam signed an agreement to this effect in Hanoi on Sept 7, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said late Sept 7. At the signing ceremony, the Australian government also pledged to provide $11 million in non-refundable aid for the program. The program is aimed to raise capability of medical workers and quality of healthcare services for the poor in rural and remote areas. The ADB has to date funded for six health projects in Vietnam; however, this is the first time it has financed a development program on the Southeast Asian nation’s health sector. As of end-2009, the ADB provided over $8 billion for 87 projects and programs in Vietnam, including $3.15 billion disbursed, making the Southeast Asian country become its third largest aid recipient behind Bangladesh and Pakistan. (vietnamplus.vn Sept 7, Vietnam News Sept 8 p5)
