Japanese Governement Pledges 8 Ambulances to the Maldives

The Government of Japan has committed a grant of Seventeen Million One Hundred Eighty-Six Thousand One Hundred Forty-Eight Japanese Yen (JPY 17,186,148), (approximately USD 159,131 equivalent to MVR 2,453,800) for "The project for provision of reconditioned ambulances to local islands in the Maldives" under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme.

The Grant Contract was signed by Her Excellency Mrs. TAKEUCHI Midori, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, and His Excellency Dr. Shah Abdullah Mahir, Minister of State for Health at a ceremony held today at the Ministry of Health. Under the terms of the Grant Contract, the project funds for the provision of 8 reconditioned ambulances (TOYOTA) with 8 sets of 12 medical equipment such as ALS bag, oxygen cylinder, bag valve mask, spinal board. The Ministry will allocate 2 ambulances to National Ambulance Services in Hulhumalé and each to 6 local islands.

This assistance will complement the efforts of the Government of Maldives to strengthen the response of the health system in emergencies. In October 2019, the Government of Japan handed over 21 land ambulances in value of USD 1.4 million to the Ministry of Health to be allocated to 21 islands across 15 atolls. These ambulances were donated as part of the grant of 300 million Japanese Yen (equivalent to USD 2.8 million) committed for the Health Sector of the Maldives, in line with the Exchange of Notes signed by the Government of Japan and the Government of Maldives in June 2018, under "The Economic and Social Development Programme".

The GGP is part of the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) implemented by the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives to empower people at the grassroots level. Since 1996, the GGP has been implemented in broad areas such as education, environment, health, transportation, and energy to contribute to the sustainable development of the Maldives.