A $129.2-million aid to Nepal to support the delivery of essential heath services to the poor has been approved by The World Bank (WB).

A statement issued by the bank said that the Second Heath, Nutrition and Population and HIV/AIDS Project approved by the World Bank Wednesday will support the Nepal Health Sector Program II, the Nepal government's five year program (2010-2015).

Xinhua has also reported that the project will build on the bank's ongoing support to Nepal's health sector since 2004 and support the expansion and strengthening of these services with a focus on better reaching the poor and excluded segments of the society.

The bank further said that three development partners, the World Bank, the Department for International Development of the UK and the Australian aid agency, AusAID, have agreed to pool finances to meet a slice of Nepal's health sector expenditures.

Susan Goldmark, World Bank country director for Nepal, said, "The project will support the government's programme to respond to the people's expectations of inclusive and accountable public services."

Goldmark further added, "The geographic coverage of essential services will be expanded, and policies aimed at increasing access and utilisation by the poor and under-served populations will be more systematically implemented."

It was also noted by the bank that Nepal's health sector has seen impressive progress in the past few years. Infant mortality declined by 39 percent over the last 15 years from 79 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1991-94 to 48 deaths in 2001-2005.

The statement said, "An even more impressive decline was observed in under-five mortality, which declined by 48 percent from 118 to 61 deaths per 1,000 live births over the same period, while neonatal and postnatal mortality also decreased by 34 percent and 48 percent respectively." (With Inputs from Agencies)