Japan Grants 600 Million Japanese Yen to Maldives’ Health Sector

Sunday 7th of June 2020

Japan Grants 600 Million Japanese Yen to Maldives’ Health Sector

On 7th June, he Government of Japan provided a grant aid of 600 million Japanese Yen (worth USD 5.6 million) to strengthen the Maldives’ health sector. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Keiko Yanai signed the Exchange of Notes relating to the grant aid, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the grant aid will be utilized to procure medical equipment required to strengthen the capacities of health facilities in atolls/islands. Under this grant aid, equipment including, 10 bedside X-ray machines, 65 bedside monitors, 19 portable ultrasound image diag systems, 200 automated external defibrillators and 160 syringe pumps will be provided.

Minister Shahid expressed sincere appreciation to the Government and the people of Japan, for the timely and important grant aid as Maldives continues to fight back the community outbreak of COVID-19. The Japanese Ambassador noted the importance of solidarity among international community to fight against the pandemic and further highlighted on Japan’s commitment to actively collaborate in this regard.

Japan has aided the Maldives fight the pandemic several times. Last month, the Government of Japan provided a grant of USD 356,400 for UNICEF Maldives and USD 185,000 for Maldives Red Crescent to assist the Government in its efforts to respond to COVID-19. The Government of Japan has also committed a grant of USD 1.4 million to the UNDP Maldives in support of small and medium enterprises in agri-businesses affected by COVID-19.