Hospital receives $2m supplies and equipment from Japan [1]
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 19:46. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Dr Siale 'Akau'ola and HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro
Medical equipment and supplies worth $2.9 million pa'anga was handed over by Japan's Ambassador to Tonga HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro at Vaiola Hospital today.
The Ambassador said the assistance expressed Japan's appreciation for Tonga's support and sympathies extended after the Great East Japan earthquake on March 11, 2011.
Items included two sets of endoscopes for the hospital, 10 sets of autoclaves for healthcare centres, 1000 sets of first aid kits and 2,000 packages of copy paper provided under a Non-Project Grant Aid scheme.
He said the equipment and items were manufactured by survivors of the earthquake and manufactured in factories located in the disaster affected areas of Tohoku region situated on the northern part of Japan.
"It is fortunate for Japan it can work with the Ministry of Health and Vaiola Hospital in order to improve the health care system for the people of Tonga. Along with the upgrading and refurbishment of the hospital, Japan has significantly committed to the improvement of health and medical services in Tonga," he said.
Dr Hamuro said Japan had shown steady progress towards recovery and businesses were back on their feet. "This assistance is possible thanks to such steady progress towards the road to early recovery," he said.
Dr Siale 'Akau'ola thanked Japan for their generous donation, which wa not their first to the hospital. He said the medical equipment such the endoscope devices would be most useful in the operating theatre.