Six health centres boosted with vehicles

By NATHAN WOTI
SIX health centres in Enga have received a significant boosts to their services with a donation of a van and two 10-seater land cruisers recently from the Japanese government as aid through its Grassroots Grant Projects programme.
Japanese ambassador Nobuyuki Watanabe said health and education were the two main areas which his government was keen to provide their aid in.
He said given the geographical challenges in Enga, the embassy, through its GGP assistance programme provided vehicles which would be used to transport nurses as well as help pregnant women to get health care.
“Enga was the first province to make a request to us through the GGP for vehicles to assist nurses in rural communities and villages,” Watanabe said.
“Japan sent six vans in 2019 and recently assisted again with two 10-seaters to be used as ambulance dispatch vehicles because of the challenges faced in reaching villages in the province.
“I am glad that the reports we have received from the health centres in Wabag and Wapenamanda Sopas Lutheran Health Centre so far are positive.
“The vehicles have been put to good use, and have done more than what is expected.”
Watanabe said that he had been given a review of the use of the vehicles and a recommendation had been made to replace the vans with four-wheel drive vehicles which were more suited to the terrain and environment of Enga.
The Ambassador said he was pleased to know that the vehicles had improved the PHA’s ability to provide health care to at-risk members of the community particularly pregnant women.