Brussels, 12/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, signed a EUR 30 million financing agreement for a "programme to support the hygiene and basic health sector" in Bolivia, of which 25 million comes from the Community and 5 million from the Bolivian government. This five year programme covers a population of 1.1 million inhabitant in the particularly poor Potosi and Tarja departments. It foresees:
Carrying our detailed studies on the health situation and the means available to improve it, as well as drafting a health plan for each department;
Improving the drinking-water supply and sanitation systems, together with hygiene and health information campaigns (in particular on the use of water);
Increasing the health system's operational capacity by improving infrastructures (dispensaries, hospitals), equipment and the availability of medicines as well as medical staff training;
Strengthening the institutions, by providing training for hospital administration, as well as including civil society in the reform process.
This aid is part of the EU support policy for the fight against poverty in Bolivia, main beneficiary of European development aid in Latin America. In complements interventions from other donors such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.