Press Release

OPEC Fund supports Phase II of the Pan Arab Familiy Health Project with US$250,000

69/2005 June 15, 2005, Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria
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The OPEC Fund for International Development today approved a grant of US$250,000 to co-finance the second phase of the activities of the Pan Arab Project for Family Health (PAPFAM). Guided by the Joint Arab Economic Strategy, the Social Development Strategy and the resolutions of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, PAPFAM aims to obtain a timely and integrated flow of reliable information on health, social and environmental status of family, and underlying determinants in the Arab region. This information will be used as a reliable data base for identifying problems and priority areas for health policy and program interventions at all levels in 16 Arab countries.

Under the second phase (2005-2007), the project aims to widely disseminate its findings and methodologies through a set of technical documents, reports and take part in the preparation of the “Human Development Report”. Achievements of the initial PAPFAM will be consolidated and technical surveys and studies will be finalized. Phase II also covers some institution building activities, (such as establishing a database) integrating the PAPFAM as a reference centre of technical excellence; building relationships with other relevant and subject related organizations; establishing regional mechanism to ensure continuous monitoring at all levels and to establish a management information system. In depth studies and reports are to be prepared under the second phase relate to Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine and Iraq.

The PAPFAM initiative was initially launched in recognition of the key role played by a healthy population in a country’s social and economic development and thus of the need for effective national health programs. The first phase of PAPFAM was implemented successfully under the sponsorship of LAS in five years (2000-2004), with technical and financial support by AGFUND, OPEC Fund, UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF.