The Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mr. Satoshi Tanaka, today handed over a PCR
GeneXpert Machine to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC).
The handover is a key milestone in a project managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The Ambassador cited this as one of many projects in which the Government of Japan is cooperating
with the Government of Zimbabwe.
The project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNOPS, works to increase accessibility to basic emergency medical services in remote communities in Manicaland Province. In addition to the PCR machine donated to Nyanga District Hospital, the project is also procuring two ambulances for Chipinge and Mutasa Districts to be handed over in January 2023. The donated machine will not only test for COVID-19, but also tuberculosis (TB), drug susceptibility testing in TB and early infant HIV diagnosis (EID).
Universal health coverage and improving access to healthcare is a key part of Japan’s development cooperation policy. Through humanitarian assistance and rehabilitating infrastructure in fragile environments, Japan and UNOPS are working together worldwide to build better lives for people in need.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ms. Nawal Aminath, UNOPS Zimbabwe Country Director, appreciated the Government of Japan for the donation, citing how the beneficiaries need the intervention.
We are delighted to facilitate the Government of Japan’s initiative to strengthen access to basic emergency services in Manicaland. UNOPS has extensive experience working in these areas following the dual devastations of Cyclone Idai and COVID-19 and as such we understand the significant need for such equipment and training,” she said.
This project will be delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC),
which will conduct training sessions for two ambulance drivers in ambulance operations, four nurses in integration of health services, and two laboratory technicians in operations and maintenance of the PCR GeneXpert machine.
Ambassador Tanaka applauded UNOPS for the work being done in Manicaland to transform the
lives of communities and said Japan’s aim through providing this PCR machine is to enhance service
delivery by enabling disease management resulting in timely testing, infection prevention and
control, case management, and disease surveillance.
