Japan donates ambulances to Nigeria

…Pledges more in 2018

ABUJA – The Federal Government on Friday received 31 ambulances from the Government of Japan.
The donation, aimed at improving health care services in public health facilities in Nigeria, was a continuation Japan’s support to the country.
The donation follows a “note verbal-agreement” signed by the Federal Government, through the then National Planning Commission, now Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and the Japanese Government on 30th September, 2014.
12 more ambulances would be delivered to Nigeria by Japan next year, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said in Abuja while receiving the vehicles. 
“This move by the Japanese government has provided the opportunity to strengthen greater collaboration and partnership between our two countries. With this kind gesture, our bilateral tie is further deepened. This support will contribute immensely in supporting the Federal Government’s efforts in strengthening the National Emergency Response Programme (NERP) of the Federal Ministry of Health.
“Although we need a pool of ambulances dedicated solely to the NERP, the provision of these ambulances to our tertiary health institutions across the states will assist to ensure that emergency cases requiring ambulances services are taken care of at the state level,” he said.
He stressed that Japan would provide training on the effective management of the ambulances, and that knowledge gained from the exercise would enhance performance of the trained nurses and drivers for effective emergency service delivery.
Assuring Japan that the ambulances would be maximally utilized for the purpose intended, the minister said it was important to state that Nigeria had continued to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the national health system in various aspects,  and that the ambulances would complement Nigeria’s health agenda.
In his remarks, Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Sudanobu Kusaoke, said “Health, as the essential component of the concept of human security, is among the top priorities in our relation with Nigeria. Health is also a part of the foundation for economic and social development.
“We have thus maintained our focus on Nigeria’s health sector. For example, through Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GPP), the Japanese Embassy, in partnership with Nigerian local NGOs, has been providing various primary health care facilities for rural communities. We have also supplied advanced medical equipment for secondary health care centres. Another support of ours is scholarship programme for Nigerian undergraduate medical students for training in Japan.
“These ambulances are the latest example of a series of our aid projects in the health sector, but will not be the last. This is also a follow-up to the TICAD VI declaration last year. Today’s occasion is to mark the delivery of the first batch of 31 ambulances, and the remaining ones will be delivered in due course. I am very happy to note that all the states and the FCT are on the list of the recipients.”
The ambulances were delivered to tertiary health institutions in the country, whose representatives were present at the handing-over ceremony.