Japan's NPGA handed over medical equipment to the Ministry of Health Featured
20 May 2021. His Excellency Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, handed over Japan’s Non-Project Grant Assistance, NPGA, for provision of anti-COVID-19 medical equipment on Wednesday 19 May 2020 to Tonga’s Ministry of Health
The equipment was received by Hon. Associate Professor ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu, Minister for Health.
This provision of the NPGA anti-COVID-19 medical equipment is the first batch of assistance approved last year for Tonga.
The assistance aims to strengthen both the ministry’s countermeasures and basic medical system in order to tackle various diseases with high-quality medical equipment made in Japan.
H.E. Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku in his speech expressed his sincere respect to the front liners of Tonga who are working hard in protecting the people from COVID-19.
He said, “I hope the medical equipment would improve Tonga’s border control and reduce the burden on the front-liners. I know that since last July, they have been working hard on people repatriated back to Tonga.”
The amount of this first batch is approximately $110,000 US dollars, which is out of the total sum of $1.5 million US dollars including 4 Infant incubators, 4 Negative Pressure Booths, and 3 Thermography Cameras.
The Ambassador also introduced that 5 vehicles and a boat will be provided for Tonga, through Japan’s $9million US dollars emergency grant assistance channeled through UNICEF for antiCOVID-19 to Pacific Islands.
In receiving the assistance, Hon. Dr. ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu, Minister for Health conveyed the Government of Tonga’s sincere thanks to the Government of Japan for the equipment.
She said Japan’s NPGA reached the vulnerable population of Tonga and reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to reach universal health coverage. She was pleased with the thermography cameras which will be installed at the International Fua’amotu Airport and also at Lupepau’u Aiport, Vava’u islands.
Japan’s NPGA intends to support developing countries by promoting its economic and social development efforts, and Tonga’s Ministry of Health has been a recipient for many years.
