By DALCY LULUA
THE Japanese Embassy, through the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) has granted three (3) contracts for projects of two new school building constructions for two schools and one project for the reuse of secondhand ambulances for a health center.
The recipient of the projects are Hoskins Primary School in West New Britain, St Theresa Yamamoto Primary School in South Bougainville and Tinkoris Medical Center in New Ireland Province.
Japan’s Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Nobuyuki Watanabe, announced that these two schools would receive new school buildings and necessary equipment, with Tinkoris Medical Center to receive two secondhand ambulances worth a total amount of approximately K760,526 through GGP’s financial support.
“I know most of the people in these areas are subsistence farmers and they have been struggling to pay for their children’s education and affordable healthcare because they are only earning the minimum income necessary to live,” he said.
“I also heard that the two schools are facing shortage of classroom space and that the children are studying in poor conditions, with no transport or vehicle from Kavieng to respond to emergency cases.
“Therefore, I hope these grants will address the problems you are facing.”
Under the GGP scheme, Japan has supported and provided funding to more than 100 schools, some healthcare equipment and facilities, water and sanitation projects and basic infrastructure development like foot bridges. Watanabe said Japan’s grassroots projects reach out directly to the people in local communities by addressing basic human needs such as primary education, healthcare, and by supporting infrastructure.
“The Government of Japan is pleased to complement the PNG Government’s efforts to improve the education and health sector in this economically challenging times,” he said. “To achieve better outcomes, providing school buildings in primary schools and vehicle such as ambulances for health facilities is essential to facilitate effective teaching and learning and to provide good health care for people. I hope all these projects will be well-maintained and remembered as a symbol of friendship between the people of Japan and PNG in the years to come.”
The recipients of the projects thanked the Japan Ambassador for the assistance and promised to look after these projects well.
