Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 (UNI) The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 280 million program to enhance the life expectancy and quality of life of over 11 million elderly and vulnerable people in Kerala by expanding healthcare coverage and building a climate-resilient health system.
Kerala has achieved remarkable health outcomes over the past two decades, with neonatal mortality at 3.4 per 1,000 live births, infant mortality at 4.4, under-five mortality at 5.2, and maternal mortality at 19 per 100,000 live births, according to an official release.
These gains have been driven by the State's high literacy rate, strong public health awareness, and decentralized governance, a release said.
However, the State's health system faces growing challenges from a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, along with a rapidly aging population that makes up over 20 percent of the total population. Gaps in emergency and trauma care also persist, with more than 4,000 road accident deaths reported each year.
The Kerala Health System Improvement Program aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare model. It will strengthen digital health infrastructure through eHealth services, integrated data systems, and enhanced cybersecurity.
The program will also focus on ensuring that more than 90 percent of registered patients with hypertension and diabetes are treated and monitored using individual electronic tracking systems.
A home-based care model will be introduced for bedbound and vulnerable elderly persons to provide continuous medical support.
"Good health empowers people, creates jobs, and drives economic growth. Strong, resilient health systems also help economies prevent and better respond to health emergencies and pandemics," said Paul Procee, the World Bank's Acting Country Director for India.
He noted that in Kerala, where women have some of the highest educational achievements in India, improved health outcomes can further boost economic growth. The Program aims to achieve a 40 percent increase in hypertension control and a 60 percent rise in cervical and breast cancer screenings among women.
Local self-government institutions, including gram panchayats and municipal corporations, will be involved in implementing standard antibiotic-use protocols and strengthening zoonotic disease surveillance through faster laboratory reporting.
Primary health centers in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Palakkad, and Alappuzha will incorporate climate-resilient practices to improve energy efficiency and adapt to extreme weather events such as heatwaves and floods.
"Kerala has adopted a One Health approach, and lessons from previous World Bank-supported initiatives have helped establish a strong community-based surveillance system,"
said Deepika Chaudhery and Hikuepi Katjiuongua, Task Team Leaders of the program.
They said the new initiative would ensure broader health coverage for elderly citizens and create a multilevel trauma and emergency care network to benefit about 8.5 million people across the State.
The USD 280 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity period of 25 years, including a five-year grace period.