The Government of Japan is providing grant assistance worth approximately USD 73,000 for the benefit of residents in Salavan Province through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
The project supports the construction of a new hospital ward as well as the provision of medical equipment and hospital furniture at Napho Small Hospital in Salavan District in Salavan Province to improve their healthcare services.
The grant agreement was signed by Mr. Kenichi Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR and representatives of the provincial authority, witnessed by Mr Daovong Phonekeo, the Governor of Salavan Province in Vientiane on Aug 21.
“Japan’s supports have been extended to 5 districts in Salavan Province since 2007, through the construction and renovation of district hospitals, small hospitals and a dormitory for medical students, as well as the provision of medical equipment including ambulances,” said Mr Daovong Phonekeo, the Governor of Salavan Province.
“These generous supports have greatly contributed to the improvement of basic healthcare services provided by health workers and the better access to healthcare for residents in Salavan Province. We recognize that these supports have also led to the achievement of economic and social development in the Province as well,” said He.
“Napho Small Hospital has an extremely important presence that residents in the neighbourhood can rely on close at hand. As such, we hope that this project will greatly improve the clinical environment for both of patients and health workers at the hospital,” said Ambassador Kenichi Kobayashi.
“We believe this project will lead to well improved health indicators in Salavan District and Salavan Province as a whole. We would like to continue our support in a wide range of areas, including health, in Salavan Province in order to further nurture these talents and help raise the level of human resources”, he added.
Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) provides funds for relatively small-scale projects that directly benefit local residents by supporting economic and social development in developing countries including Laos.
The Government of Japan has provided more than USD 470,000 to Salavan Province over the past five years to support education, health, infrastructure, and other areas. In shared effort to address regional disparities in socio-economic development, Japan will continue to support initiatives to improve the basic standard of living at grassroots level in the Lao PDR to ensure “no-one is left behind”.
Source: Lao News Agency
