Ethiopia Receives 478mln Birr worth Medical Equipment Support from Japan
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia on Tuesday received 100 Syringe Pumps and Portable X-Ray Machines worth 478 million birr from Japan.
The support aims at boosting Ethiopia’s push to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
The machines will be installed in university hospitals and medical institutions located in 10 regional states and Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations.
The procurement was made as part of an Exchange of Notes for the Grant Aid agreement for the Procurement of Health and Medical Equipment worth $13.6 million or approximately 478 million Birr, according to the Japanese embassy in Ethiopia.
ITO Takako, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, handed over the machines to health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse whose office will be responsible for transporting and installing the machines in the 10 university hospitals.
At the handing over event, Ambassador ITO said the health sector is one of Japan’s priorities in terms of support for Ethiopia.
“As a friend of this great country, it is our pleasure to be able to contribute to the health and well-being of the Ethiopian people,” the Ambassador said.
She also expressed her hope that the equipment “will contribute to further enhancing measures for the fight against infectious diseases in Ethiopia, including COVID-19, and strengthening the health care system”.
This handover of medical equipment is a continuation of the August 2019 Yokohama TICAD 7 commitments to expand Universal Health Coverage and the African Health and Well-being Initiatives.