By Kuda Pembere
The Japanese Government through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has donated another ambulance to government for use at Chipinge District Hospital.
The other two ambulances were handed over to Hauna and Chikore hospitals.
All the ambulances worth over US$100 000 were donated to Manicaland province districts following a call for applications for Japan’s supplemental fund which UNOPS was awarded.
Speaking during the donation Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Timios Kwidini commended UNOPS and Japan for the assistance to help in emergency response for Chipinge.
“I’m delighted to receive this critical ambulance on behalf of the Ministry and the government of the entire Zimbabwe population through our UNOPS, which is there for coordinating these programs and projects, which is very vital to us.
“As the ministry, we want to applaud the Japanese government and JICA, specifically for support strategy implementations in Zimbabwe. As you all know that this is not the first donation, it’s actually the third ambulance we received now from Japan through UNOPS.
“So now, this time, the first one, they have gone to, as it has been said, to Chikowore Mission and Ahuna to complement the needs of health systems. So I want to thank you for that. The ambulance will go a long way in assisting the Chipinge district in response to emergencies.
“As we all know, that is very vital to have these ambulances for the bad terrains in those areas. So we applaud you for that, the Japanese. The UNOPS, we want to thank you also for coordinating this support, which is timely,” he said.
He added that Government remains committed in improving the emergency health pillar.
“As I conclude, let me reiterate the government’s commitment to improve your emergency pillar also to also keep requesting good help from Japan and also through UNOPS. I think we can all see the commitment of our government in ensuring that our communities are able to help and that no one is left behind,” the Deputy Minister said.
The Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe Mr Shinichi Yamanaka said the ambulance was part of the Japan funded project for Manicaland.
“I am pleased to be here to hand over an ambulance to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, under the Japan-funded and UNOPS-implemented project called “Equipping Health Centres in Manicaland Province to Improve Emergency Medical Services-.
“On behalf of the Government and People of Japan, I would like to say thank you for the effort and collaboration of UNOPS and the Ministry of Health and Child Care. This ambulance is actually the third one to be procured by UNOPS under this Japan-funded project, and it will be delivered to Chipinge District Hospital.
“Ambulances can change the quality of life of people, especially those who are living in remote areas. They take it possible to have timely emergency treatment soon after experiencing a traffic accident or sudden illness.
“It is said that the first hour from the time an accident happened is a “golden hour”, since whether or not the treatment can start within this first hour may mean the difference between life and death,” he said.
UNOPS Zimbabwe office Officer in Charge a.i Mr Clement Mhlanga said this donation will strengthen government’s efforts in the cholera fight.
“As the country fights the cholera outbreak, I trust that this donation funded by the Government of Japan will strengthen the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Child Care towards equitable, appropriate, accessible, affordable and acceptable quality health services for all,” he said.
He explained they bought the ambulance after realizing a saving from a grant they got from the Japanese Government.
“Now this actually prompted UNOPS to apply for the funds which had been advertised by the government of Japan under the Supplemental Fund, and so that we could support those emergency equipment, including the GeneXpert PCR testing machine and ambulances, as well as training the people.
“We are very grateful today that the proposal was approved, and UNOPS actually received $322,259 in March of 2022 for the purchase of two fully equipped emergency response ambulances and a GeneXpert PCR machine. In October of 2022, that PCR machine was handed over to the Ministry of Health and South Care at Nyanga District Hospital,” Mr Mhlanga said.
UNOPS also trained laboratory technicians, ambulance drivers and ambulance technicians to ensure proper utilization of the equipment and ambulances.
