Japan commits USD1.5m for medical equipment [1]
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 - 18:16. Updated on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 09:25.
Medical equipment assistance worth about USD1.5 million will be provided to Tonga by Japan, after an Exchange of Notes was signed on July 6.
Japan’s Ambassador HE Mr Tetsuya Ishii and Tonga's Minister for Health Hon Dr. ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu signed the grant for Economic and Social Development Plan, otherwise known as the Non-Project Grant Assistance (NPGA).
This assistance aims to support Tonga’s counter measures against COVID-19 and strengthen its medical system in order to tackle various diseases, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with high quality medical equipment made in Japan.
Equipment for medical thermography and other monitoring, will be provided by this assistance and handed over to Vaiola Hospital and community health centers in the outer islands.
The Ambassador said the current situation caused by COVID-19 still showed indications of a crisis of human security and he respected the Government of Tonga’s efforts to tackle the pandemic, which has kept the country COVID-19 free.
The Minister of Health expressed her appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for this assistance.
The medical equipment will be important for the strategic planning laid out by the Government of Tonga, she said.