The government of Japan has donated medical equipment worth MVR 41 million as a grant aid to the Maldives.
Japanese Ambassador to Maldives Keiko Yanai handed over the equipment to Health Minister Abdulla Ameen during a special ceremony held on Tuesday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Yanai said that Maldives have achieved world recognition in the Health Sector. The donated medical equipment are for health service providers in Male' and atoll hospitals, he added.
While 24 ambulances were gifted to be used in the atolls, machinery required for performing operations were provided. Ambassador Yanai said the goals set by Minister Ameen for the development of the health sector are ambitious, and expressed hope that the donated equipment would assit in achieving the goals set byb the government.
Speaking as the guest of honor at the ceremony, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen noted that most of the ambulances being used in Male' area were mainly donated by Japan. Ameen thanked the Japanese government for the continued assistance provided for the development of the health sector, and noted that the Maldivian people are benefiting from the assistance provided by Japan.
The Japanese government donated medical equipment worth MVR 9 million in 2011. While equipment worth MVR 8 million was donated the following year, the Japanese gifted equipment woth MVR 14 million in 2017.
Senior officials from the Health Ministry, Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), and the Foreign Ministries of both Japan and Maldives attended the handover ceremony. Diplomats from the Japanese and Indian embassies in Maldives also attended the event.
Photo: IGMH
