Japan donates Ebola equipment to Noguchi Memorial Institute

H.E. Kaoru Yoshimura, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana has handed over the Equipment for Preparedness against the Ebola Viral Disease to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).

The donation forms part of the government of Japan’s continuous support at assisting Ghana in its preparedness against the Ebola Viral Disease.

The items include: two thermal cycler, one deep freezer and 45 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Another one 155 sets of PPE and reagents for testing will be delivered to the Institute soon.

The government of Japan has also assisted NMIMR in the production of an Ebola-related Documentary for social mobilization. The documentary has already been shown on television and would be repeated several times on different TV stations.

H.E. Yoshimura congratulated the Noguchi Memorial Institute on its remarkable efforts, achievements and commitment towards the improvement of health conditions not only in Ghana but also in the West African sub-region.

Professor Kwadwo Koram, Director, Noguchi Memorial Institute, University of Ghana, thanked the government of Japan for supporting with the Institute since 1979 in various fields through the projects and grant aid assistance. He stated that the Institute would maintain and make good use of the items donated for Ghana’s Preparedness against the Ebola Viral Disease.

The government of Japan through JICA, in September 2014, handed over easy-to-understand Ebola communications materials comprising 300,000 posters and brochures to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to be distributed nationwide for the community-based awareness both in urban and rural areas.

JICA also donated 128 non-contact hand-held thermometers to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the GHS in Accra in 10th November 2014. JICA also supported the case management & surveillance training in eight regions in Ghana this year.

At the International level, the government of Japan has been actively engaged with other governments and organizations as part of its support to fighting the spread of Ebola in the West Africa sub -region. This intervention forms critical aspects of Japan’s support for Ghana’s National Preparedness and Response Plan for prevention and containment of Ebola.

H.E. Yoshimura mentioned that the Government of Japan would continue to support Ghana’s national response for Ebola preparedness as well as West Africa’s fight against the spread of the Ebola virus.



Source: JICA