Japanese aid to improve Jaffna heath services

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 April 2004, 11:12 GMT]
39 motorcycles will be handed over to the Jaffna provincial health department for the use of public health inspectors in the peninsula under the 250 million rupee-grant of the Japanese government through the UNICEF to support the project for the improvement of Maternal and Child Care in the conflicted affected areas in the northeast and the neighbouring districts, sources said.

The handing over event will be held Saturday (April 10) morning around 10 a.m. at the office of the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services (DPDHS) in Jaffna, sources said.

Public Health Inspectors would use the motorcycles to facilitate community actions to promote and facilitate a safe and healthy environment for women and children 0-5 years with emphasis on less than three years. The 36 motorcycles are part of 46 allocated to the Jaffna health division, sources said.

The Government of Japan has generously contributed to this project to support the speedy restoration of maternal and child health services in the northeast district and adjacent districts through the UNICEF as the two decades of conflict have weakened the entire health system, sources said.