English summary of environmental assessment report

The Health Sector Services Development Project of the Congo is based on national HIV/AIDS, health and social policies and strategies contained in the Government's HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (Cadre strategique de la lutte contre le SIDA) and in the National Health Development Plan (PNDS). Global objectives of the project are to increase access to quality health services, especially for women, children and vulnerable groups particularly the country's pygmy population and to improve health sector HIV/AIDS response capacity and effectiveness. The project involves possible adverse environmental impacts which are being addressed and need to be well-managed. Negative impact on the environment could result from (i) construction and renovation of health facilities and (ii) inadequate management of medical wastes within health facilities, especially those managed by private-for-profit health clinics. Potential quarry exploitation for building materials could also cause negative impacts on the environment. Construction and renovation of health infrastructures can generate biophysical environmental impacts such as erosion, soil and flora degradation and pollution by solid and liquid wastes. These negative impacts occur mainly during the setting of these infrastructures, the implantation in building sites and exploitation of quarries for building materials. Construction and renovation of medical infrastructures might have negative effects if hiring labor discriminates against local manpower and if purchase price for private lands to be occupied is inadequate. Temporary risks to populations' health might arise from pollution and physical harm linked with works (dust, noise, traffic and labor accidents, etc.). Health facility activities generate several medical wastes which could pose serious hazards to environment and to humans, if not managed efficiently.