Japan gifts $1.3m medical equipment to hospitals

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 October 2005, 12:49 GMT]
Government of Japan handed over Rs. 130 million worth of Medical Equipment to improve the healthcare facilities in 33 hospitals in tsunami affected areas, a press release from Embassy of Japan issued in Colombo today said.

Full text of the press release follows:

The Government of Japan handed over/transferred Rs. 130 million worth of much needed Medical Equipment to improve the healthcare facilities in 33 hospitals in tsunami affected areas.

These medical equipment will be used for emergency treatment in operating theatres, intensive care units, out patient departments, labour rooms and other medical units to diagnostic and treat various complications and for efficient functioning of the hospitals.

These equipment will be distributed to 33 hospitals in the Tsunami affected districts throughout the country, namely Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Moneragala, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Jaffna.

Soon after the tsunami disaster, the Government of Japan provided Rs. 8 billion (US$ 80 million) under the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid for relief, rehabilitation and reconciliation of a wide range of affected sectors including health, fisheries, housing, power, roads, education and water & sanitation sectors. Out of the total grant, Rs. 185 million has been allocated to the health sector in order to provide essential healthcare facilities. This allocation to the health sector will be utilized for the provision of 5 Mobile Diagnostic Units to the North, the East, the South, the West and to all other needy areas, much needed medical equipment to 33 hospitals in the affected areas and also to reconstruct the Anti Rabies Laboratory which served as diagnostic facility in Galle that was completely destroyed.

Handover of the medical equipment by His Excellency Mr. Akio Suda, Ambassador of Japan, to Honorable Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Health Care, Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development, took place at a ceremony on ３１Ｏｃｔｏｂｅｒ 2005 at the Auditorium of the Ministry of Health. Mr. Ranjith Maligaspe, Secretary and Dr. Nihal Jayathilake, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health Care, Nutrition & Uva Wellassa Development, Dr. Kahanda Liyanage, Director General, Department of Health, Dr. Yuji Miyahara, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan and other distinguished guest were present at the occasion. (END)