CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW HEALTH FUNDING FOR HAITI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000585 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAN, WHA/CAR, EB/IFD/ODF, OES/IHA STATE PASS USAID/LAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON SOCI CA HA SUBJECT: CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW HEALTH FUNDING FOR HAITI ¶1. (U) Summary: International Cooperation Minister Josee Verner recently announced that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will commit over C$45 million for new health-related development projects in Haiti: C$18.75 million to support the development of Haiti's health system; C$17.5 million to support immunizations; and C$9.2 million in response to the United Nations Transitional Appeal. Verner also indicated that Canada would provide another C$20 million for a financial insurance mechanism in the Caribbean in the event of natural disasters. The announcement received praise from GOH Minister of Planning and Foreign Cooperation Bellerive. The funding is part of the C$520 million commitment Canada made at last July's Port-au-Prince conference to support the Haitian government's development efforts. End Summary. ¶2. (U) During her official visit to Haiti in late February, International Development Minister Verner announced several GoC initiatives to facilitate access to health services to vulnerable segments of the Haitian people, including women, and to offer basic services in health, prevention and protection of human rights. The money is earmarked for three major projects. ¶3. (U) C$18.75 million will go, over five years, to the Health System Development Support Project (PADESS) to contribute to the development of Haiti's health system, especially in the departments of Artibonite, Nippes, the Southeast and Northeast. PADESS is to strengthen Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population's regulatory role and will develop a vision shared by health sector participants, including the GoH, the private sector, religious communities, and Haitian and international voluntary organizations. The project includes C$5 million to support initiatives of Canadian partners to deliver basic health services. ¶4. (U) C$17.5 million, over five years, has been allocated to Haiti's Expanded Vaccination Support Program (PAPEV) to reduce infant morality. PAPEV is sub-divided into three components: -- C$15 million to support a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) program to build capacity and coordinate the work of the organizations giving the vaccinations; -- C$1 million to the International Development Research Center (IDRC) for research to improve the health system's delivery of immunization programs; -- C$1.5 million to support an initiative involving Haiti, Brazil, and Canada to strengthen the Ministry of Public Health and Population's Expanded Vaccination Program and improve the delivery of vaccines through a refrigerated distribution chain. ¶5. (U) C$9.2 million will go to the United Nations Appeal to Support Haiti's Stabilization to promote equality between men and women and social peace in Haiti. The money will be spent on six initiatives: -- C$5 million for PAHO for free obstetrical care for poor pregnant women; -- C$520,000 to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for human rights protection for people living in vulnerable situations; -- C$1.2 million to the UNFPA to support women and girls who are victims of sexual violence; -- C$920,000 to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for horticulture projects in the urban areas of Port-au-Prince and Jeremie; -- C$1.4 million to the United Nations Development Program (UNDR) to support human development in the Haiti-Dominican Q(UNDR) to support human development in the Haiti-Dominican Republic frontier zone; -- C$125,000 to the UNDP for coordinating humanitarian and relief efforts and C$50,000 to monitor results. ¶6. (U) Minister Verner also announced that Canada is donating C$20 million to a World Bank initiative to establish the Catastrophic Risk Management Facility (CCRIF) in the Caribbean region which will enable CARICOM governments to purchase coverage similar to business interruption insurance to provide immediate cash payments after a major earthquake or hurricane. This facility will be particularly useful to finance the immediate post disaster recovery and give governments time to mobilize additional resources for longer-term reconstruction. OTTAWA 00000585 002 OF 002 Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON