Japan pledges to fund health facility in Zambézia

Maputo, 25 Feb (AIM) – The Japanese government has pledged to disburse 78,900 dollars to fund the construction of a health facility on Idugo Island, in the central Mozambican province of Zambézia.

To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday between the director of the Zalala Foundation, Ângela Hadjipateras, on behalf of the Mozambican government, and the Japanese Ambassador, Hamada Keiji.

The new health unit – aimed at increasing patient care capacity by around 60 percent, and at reducing long queues and the spread of contagious and potentially fatal diseases such as HIV and syphilis – will be part of the Assistance Programme for Community Projects and Human Security (APC).

The construction work, which is due to start in July, will last for a year. The infrastructure will benefit around 12,000 inhabitants of Idugo Island.

“The Government of Japan decided to fund this project because Idugo Island, due to its geographical location, is surrounded by rivers which make it difficult to access in cases where the population needs assistance. On the other hand, the island also lacks basic infrastructure, including medical facilities”, Keiji said.

The diplomat said that his country’s government had defined improving health services as a priority in its development cooperation policy for Mozambique, and recognizes the importance of providing quality health care in the region.”

Four her turn, Hadjipateras said that, after a maternity unit was built three years ago with the support of the Japanese embassy, the time had come to build a general health facility in that region because access to health services was only possible by boat.

“We were very fortunate to receive a positive response to fund this health centre, which will be in the same area and will complete the health service that exists on the island and we know that this will make a huge difference to care”, she said.
(AIM)
Ad/FG/pf (318)