Signing Ceremony of the Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid “The Economic and Social Development Programme “

          On 20th August 2020, H. E. Mr. MIZUUCHI Ryuta, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, and the Hon. Dr. Bwalya K. E. Ng’andu, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Zambia, signed the Exchange of Notes for The Grant Aid for “The Economic and Social Development Programme” in the Ministry of Finance in Lusaka. This Programme, amounting to up to 200 million Japanese Yen (approx. 1.89 million US Dollars), aims to support the Government of Zambia in its effort for fighting against COVID-19.
 
          This Programme places medical equipment for use in the front lines of fight against COVID-19: 5 Provincial Hospitals in Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt, Muchinga and Eastern Province, and a point of entry at Kazungula Bridge in Southern Province. It aims to support forefront medical service workers of COVID-19 and beyond by responding to urgent needs for medical equipment to deal with infectious diseases.
 
          This programme is expected to improve medical services on-site and enable the Government of Zambia to manage COVID-19 pandemic more effectively, contributing to a better health care environment, wellness of the local population and, furthermore, strengthening Zambia’s healthcare system in the long run.
 
          This assistance aims for concretely realizing the expansion of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and promotion of “Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative” which the Government of Japan expressed its commitment at the TICAD 7 (the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development) in August 2019.
 
          To read the speech by Ambassador MIZUUCHI at this ceremony, please click here.