JORDAN — The Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II Hospital recently hosted a ceremony to mark the handover of medical equipment procured through a generous Japanese grant to the Ministry of Health.
According to a statement from The Jordan Times, prominent officials attended the event, including Raed Shboul, the Secretary-General for Primary Health Care and Epidemics, and Okuyama Jiro, the Japanese Ambassador to Jordan.
This ceremony marks a significant milestone in Jordan’s and Japan’s ongoing collaboration, which began with the signing of an agreement in July 2020.
Under this agreement, the Japanese government committed to granting Jordan 400 million Japanese Yen( US$2.6 million).
The grant aimed to support Jordan’s healthcare system, particularly its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant was part of the Kingdom’s Economic and Social Development Programme to procure essential medical equipment, reinforcing public health and strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure.
The medical equipment provided under this grant includes advanced digital radiography systems and CT scanners, which have been distributed to 10 government hospitals across the Kingdom.
These critical tools have played a pivotal role in enhancing Jordan’s capacity to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, contributing significantly to the nation’s life-saving efforts.
During the ceremony, Shboul emphasized the longstanding and deep-rooted relationship between Jordan and Japan, noting the extensive cooperation between the two countries in various fields, particularly in healthcare.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Japanese government and its people for their unwavering support, acknowledging the positive impact of this assistance on strengthening Jordan’s healthcare system by equipping hospitals with vital medical equipment.
Japanese Ambassador Okuyama Jiro also addressed the gathering, highlighting the project’s origins, which was initiated following discussions between His Majesty King Abdullah II and Japan’s then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in April 2020.
He highlighted the urgency of the situation at the time, as the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic posed a severe threat to human lives and caused widespread economic and social disruptions globally.
In response to this crisis, the Japanese government extended its support to Jordan, providing a range of medical equipment, including digital radiography systems, CT scanners, central monitors, and bedside monitors.
Since then, these essential tools have been distributed to 10 hospitals across the Kingdom, significantly enhancing Jordan’s healthcare capabilities.
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