By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The World Bank on Tuesday approved a new health strategy for poor countries after the United States backed off efforts to restrict access to reproductive services, including abortions. The new Strategy for Health, Nutrition and Population Results outlines the bank's plan to strengthen health systems and improve access to services in developing countries as part of its mission to reduce poverty. "The bank is redoubling its commitment to help developing countries and global partners achieve better health for people and especially poor and vulnerable communities," said Joy Phumaphi, the bank's vice president for human development and a former senior World Health Organization official. Approving the strategy, which has been in the works for more than a year, became controversial after eight European countries last week objected to U.S. efforts to alter language relating to family planning, which the Europeans said could restrict young women's access to reproductive services. The United States had wanted to use the phrase "age-appropriate access to sexual and reproductive health care," changing the language from "reproductive health services." World Bank sources told Reuters the United States did not formally submit any objection to the strategy by a midnight deadline on Monday. Instead, the United States said it would note its concerns about the language referring to underage sex and access to abortion in the official minutes of last week's board discussion. The U.S. move is consistent with accusations against the Bush administration of denying funds to groups or clinics that even offer advice about abortion. It also has been accused of trying to limit access to birth control, although the U.S. government does distribute more condoms globally than any other country. WOLFOWITZ SAYS NO CHANGE World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has denied any changes to World Bank policy on reproductive health, saying it was an important part of the bank's development agenda. His clarification came after leaked documents this month showed the bank's managing director, Juan Jose Daboub, had deleted all references to family planning in a bank strategy being prepared for the African island nation of Madagascar. Since the World Bank's last health strategy was updated in 1977, the institution has loaned $15 billion to health projects worldwide, making it one of the biggest financiers to the sector. Phumaphi said the bank consulted widely in its preparation of the new strategy. She said the new plan updated the bank's contribution to improving health services around the globe and the increasing prominence of private funding, including from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The differences between European countries and the United States over language on family planning came as Wolfowitz faced calls for his resignation over a promotion and pay rise scandal involving his girlfriend. European countries, in particular, have voiced concern about the continued leadership of the former Bush administration official.
