Donation from JICA to reap medical benefits in Fiji
Aug 8, 2008, 15:45
Thousands of children in Fiji stand to benefit from a timely donation of a new vehicle and medical supplies worth approximately $FJD173, 000 from one of the Ministry of Health, Women & Social Welfarefs critical development partner, JICA.
The Ministry of Health, Women & Social Welfare will receive the donation at a function in Suva on Tuesday, 12 August 2008.
The new vehicle will be used for outreach activities at the Northern Health Services while cold chain equipment such as gas and electric refrigerators, ice-lined refrigerators and cold boxes would be distributed widely for the care of children.
The Ministry is delighted with the timely provision of equipment and supplies because they would enable health-care professionals conduct a more efficient and smooth health service delivery to the children in Fiji.
JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency), the official international corporation agency under the government of Japan, has been an important partner in developing the capacity of health services in Fiji for many years. @
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is a programme advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF and has been in common in many countries of the world.
The EPI focuses on nine vaccine preventable diseases, namely measles, paralytic Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B.
These diseases prioritized highly since they can be prevented by immunization.
Since October 2000, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has placed Measles as a priority after the successful eradication of Polio in the Pacific Region. It also has set a goal to eliminate measles from the Region in the near future.
In line with this, the Japanese Government launched its technical corporation through the project of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), called Japanese Support to the Pacific Immunization Program Strengthening (J-PIPS), since 2005.
The J-PIPS project aims to enhance immunization coverage in the country, to improve surveillance skills and to update cold chain maintenance techniques through five-year project activities.
The equipment and supplies are to be provided to the Ministry of Health, Women, and Social Welfare for the purpose of optimizing the project activities as well as promoting smooth and efficient EPI activities throughout Fiji.
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(No.1322)