Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has promised to grant Sri Lanka emergency assistance in order to combat the worsening health crisis.
Accordingly a Bilateral agreement was signed between both parties, represented by: Yamada Tetsuya, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka and Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and JICA Sri Lanka Office were present during the signing.
The total budget allocation to this project stands at 1.8 Million USD (approximately Rs.350 Million) under Japan’s Official Development Assistance.
Funding will be directed towards securing essential medical equipment including; ICU beds, Ventilators, Ultrasound scanners and blood gas analyzers. Supplies once purchased will be directed towards 4 hospitals:
- Teldeniya Base Hospital
- Warakapola, Base Hospital
- Welikanda Base Hospital
- Pimbura Base Hospital
Funding will also be used to purchase equipment needed to set up a PCR laboratory in the Southern Province, where PCR testing facilities are severely lacking. Accordingly the Laboratory will be set up in the District General Hospital Hambantota to strengthen its infection diagnostic capacities.In addition, funding will be used to provide training for hospital staff, conducted remotely by Japanese Experts, focusing on areas such as: patient safety, and case management under spread of COVID-19 (and other infectious diseases), and strengthening nosocomial infection prevention.
