Health Ministry receives $500,000 worth of medical equipment from Japan

The Ministry of Health has received $500,000 worth of medical equipment from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

These equipment include thermometer scanner systems, emergency trolleys, non-contact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers and personal protective kits.

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says they have received assistance from JICA and Japan, from before COVID-19 and continue to work together in areas apart from COVID-19

Dr Waqainabete says the Ministry of Health recently signed an agreement with the Japanese Government for $10 million support for equipment specific for COVID-19.

While speaking at the event General Manager COVID-19 Incident Management Team, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan says what they’ve learned from COVID-19 is that it is not a sprint but a marathon.

She says the support given is what they’ll need over the long term to battle COVID-19 as they don’t see an end in sight till a vaccine is invented.

The Country Resident Representative for JICA Yukari Ono says JICA will do their best to respond to the urgent needs from their partner countries.

Ono says they will work hard to build resilient and flexible health systems and make universal health coverage a reality.

The Ministry of Health and JICA have recently signed $10 million FJD, to improve the quality of Health Services through Japanese standards.