Medical equipment worth nearly $1 million pa’anga to improve health services at Vaiola Hospital was handed over by the Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Yukio Numata, on Thursday 4 February.

The equipment  including mobile x-ray units, auto distillation apparatus, infant incubators, infant warmers, phototherapy unit, infusion pumps and emergency medical kits, was accepted by the Minister of Health Hon. Saia Piukala.

The new Vaiola Hospital was constructed with the assistance of the Japanese Government.

The Ambassor noted that Tonga and Japan’s cordial relations were maintained through the medical equipment being donated to continue the development of Tonga’s health sector.

"I am grateful to carry out the handover as part of Japan’s aid to Tonga to combat health issues that people suffer daily," he said.

Hon. Piukala said the equipment would go a long way to improving the delivery of quality health services to the people of Tonga.

Since the 1990s, the Ministry of Health had been honoured with Japanese grants for health infrastructure such as the new Vaiola Hospital, human resources among other  assistance.

"It is the aspiration of the Ministry of Health as recipients to strengthen our partnership and cooperation with the Government of Japan for the development of health services in Tonga," he stated.

This donation is the last batch of Japan's Non-Project Grant Aid for Provision of Small and Medium sized enterprises Products 2013.