Fact Sheet

March 23, 2010 | www.mcc.gov

MCC Supports Global Health Initiatives

The U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) recognizes that a healthy population – 

including reduced illness and increased life expectancy - is critical for achieving sustained economic growth and 

poverty reduction. Where national growth is potentially stymied by poor health, MCC investments can help 

governments ensure that critical, cost-effective health services are available where they have the most potential to 

make a difference in enhancing the quality of life, leading to greater productivity and economic growth. In other 

areas, such as road infrastructure, MCC works to ensure that health and safety considerations are identified early 

in the project cycle and integrated into the project design and implementation process. 

“Invest in health, build a safer future”

The MCC selection indicators for Total Public Expenditure on Health, Immunization Rate, and Natural Resources 

Management specifically focus on a country’s efforts to provide adequate health care and healthy living conditions 

to its citizens. The MCC program targets different areas of health interventions. Examples include: 

HIV/AIDS Prevention and 

Treatment

 Forty percent of the Lesotho compact is aimed 

at strengthening the delivery of essential health 

services, including HIV/AIDS prevention and 

treatment. The $122 million health component 

targets improved health sector response to 

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and maternal and child 

health through health systems strengthening - human resources, health information and 

management system investments - and public 

and private health infrastructure rehabilitation. 

The activity places special emphasis on systems 

 Indonesia’s MCC threshold program is helping to build a 

sustainable childhood immunization system by measuring vaccination coverage and ensuring the availability of 

quality vaccine supplies.
MCC Supports Global Health Initiatives, March 23, 2010 2

and infrastructure needed to roll out intensive HIV counseling, 

testing and anti-retroviral treatment. The program partners with 

efforts of PEPFAR and other USG Agencies, including USAID 

and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), and 

with other donors. 

 The MCC Environmental Guidelines establish a process for the 

review of environmental and social impacts (including health 

impacts), to ensure that Compact-funded projects are environmentally sound, are designed to operate in compliance with 

applicable regulatory requirements, and are not likely to cause a 

significant environmental, health or safety hazard. As such, all 

projects are reviewed to ensure identification and mitigation of 

potential health and safety impacts. For example, MCC-funded 

infrastructure projects typically require HIV/AIDS awareness 

campaigns and other mitigation measures be integrated into the construction and other project activities. 

Maternal and Child Health (MCH)

 In Indonesia the $20 million MCC-funded threshold program is supporting the government in reaching 

immunization targets of at least 80 percent of children under the age of one for diphtheria, tetanus, and 

pertussis and 90 percent of children for measles in 90 percent of Indonesia’s districts. 

 The threshold program with Kenya included $4 million in activities to strengthen transparency and accountability in the health sector to reduce corruption in the provision of essential services – largely targeted 

at MCH activities. MCC funding will strengthen procurement capacity and accountability, improve supply 

chain management of public health resources, and establish capacity within the Ministry of Health to monitor procurements and assess compliance. 

 MCC threshold funds are being used to increase immunization coverage of rural children for measles, 

diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus in eight targeted regions in Peru. The MCC program provides $11.5 million 

to assist the country in reaching its childhood immunization targets for all population subgroups and assists 

the Ministry of Health in strengthening information and vaccination management systems. Now in its second year, the Peru Threshold Program shows encouraging results in terms vaccination coverage. Numbers 

of children receiving diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccinations rose by nearly 50,000 from 2008 levels 

diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis 

“By building healthier, hopeful, 

and productive communities, 

we build safer and more secure 

societies that can alleviate 

global poverty and contribute 

to global prosperity.” 

Senator Bill Frist, 

Charlotte Observer

May 14, 2009
MCC Supports Global Health Initiatives, March 23, 2010 3

Non-communicable Disease and Injury 

 In Indonesia the $20 million MCC-funded threshold program is supporting the government in reaching 

immunization targets of at least 80 percent of children under the age of one for diphtheria, tetanus, and 

pertussis and 90 percent of children for measles in 90 percent of Indonesia’s districts. 

 The threshold program with Kenya included $4 million in activities to strengthen transparency and accountability in the health sector to reduce corruption in the provision of essential services – largely targeted 

at MCH activities. MCC funding will strengthen procurement capacity and accountability, improve supply 

chain management of public health resources, and establish capacity within the Ministry of Health to monitor procurements and assess compliance. 

 MCC threshold funds are being used to increase immunization coverage of rural children for measles, 

diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus in eight targeted regions in Peru. The MCC program provides $11.5 million 

to assist the country in reaching its childhood immunization targets for all population subgroups and assists 

the Ministry of Health in strengthening information and vaccination management systems. Now in its second year, the Peru Threshold Program shows encouraging results in terms vaccination coverage. Numbers 

of children receiving diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccinations rose by nearly 50,000 from 2008 levels 

diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis 

Water and Sanitation

 Diarrhea remains the second cause of death, after respiratory illnesses, for children in developing countries. Poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation is the main cause of many of these deaths. MCC 

Compacts include a total of $530 Million in water and sanitation activities in countries such as Burkina Faso, 

Mozambique, El Salvador, and Georgia. Many of the economic benefits from these activities will accrue 

from reduced illness and improved health, particularly for the poor. 

 For example, in El Salvador the MCA compact is investing nearly $24 million to provide access to potable 

water systems and sanitation services to benefit 90,000 people in the poorest region of the country. 

Other Activities

 Community driven development activities, such as those funded in the Burkina Faso, Ghana and El Salvador 

compacts, include development of local health and education services.

 Irrigation development and other water infrastructure activities include review and mitigation of health 

impacts, including malaria and other water-related diseases.

 Roads and other infrastructure activities often result in improved access for poor people to health services 

and hospitals.