Japan's Emperor honours volunteers in Tonga’s Malimali Project [1]
Monday, March 27, 2017 - 17:14. Updated on Monday, March 27, 2017 - 17:15.
Two Japanese doctors, managers of Tonga's Malimali Project promoting oral health education in schools, have received special awards presented in Tokyo on March 13 for their efforts in helping Tongan children over two decades.
Dr Koji Kawamura and Dr Sayuri Kawamura received the "Distinguished Medical Outreach and Treatment Service Award" and were honoured at a meeting with Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress at the Imperial Palace with other award recipients, reported Tonga's Ambassador to Japan, HE Tania Tupou.
The two volunteers have contributed to Tonga's Ministry of Health’s Malimali program in partnership with the Ministry of Education, schools and people.
The awardees are selected from medical personnel around Japan who have made significant contributions in community health in the country and the developing countries over a period of time. The awards ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun Newspaper Corporation and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.