Health services in Tonga will be strengthened with new medical equipment, donated by Japan and handed over  to Tonga on April 8.

Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala received the equipment from the Japanese Ambassador, HE Mr Kensaku Munenaga.

The equipment includes 20 automated external defibrillators (AED), 30 emergency carts, 30 suction pumps, three centrifuges, and two ultrasound scanners worth USD $700,000.

The donation is the second out of three batches, worth a total of over USD$1.5 million funded under Japan’s Non-Project Grant Assistance.

The first batch was handed over last year and included thermography cameras, infant incubators, and negative pressure booths.

More equipment will come later.

“We do need good facilities and sophisticated equipment so that we could cope with serious cases caused by COVID-19,” said HE Mr Munenaga.

“I sincerely hope our assistance would support the Ministry of Health and its medical team and we could provide essential services to our people when needed,”

“It is our never-ending challenge to improve our entire health service system at all levels,”

Hon Dr Saia Piukala, Minister for Health said Japan had always helped Tonga in difficult times, especially the threefold disasters including the volcanic eruption, tsunami and the spread of COVID-19 community transmission.