Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for “the Project for the Provision of Medical Equipment for Infectious Diseases Control and Dentistry in Lusaka City” under Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects

On 24th January 2024, Ambassador Takeuchi and Mrs. Charity Habeenzu, Chief Executive Officer of the Zambia Tuberculosis and Leprosy Trust (ZATULET), signed a grant contract for “The Project for the Provision of Medical Equipment for Infectious Diseases Control and Dentistry in Lusaka City” with a total grant of approx. 70,000 US dollars under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. The medical and dental equipment to be procured by ZATULET with this grant will enable the detection of TB- and HIV/AIDS- related infectious diseases.
     
ZATULET has been operating a community clinic for the low-income Kalingalinga community  in Lusaka since 1998. It has been serving specifically for the HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) patients in various aspects such as counselling, screening, diagnosis and treatment. It also provides dental check-up service in order to detect the HIV infection whose symptom is often identified in the mouth in the early stage. However, the clinic has faced the challenges for the early stage detection and treatment due to lack of the adequate machines and equipment.
 
Given such circumstances, the Government of Japan has decided to provide the grant for the organisation to purchase the testing machines for HIV/AIDS- and tuberculosis-related infectious diseases as well as a dental chair and dental equipment. Through the implementation of this project, it is expected that the clinic will be able to diagnose up to 60 patients a day and start the appropriate treatment from the early stage of the diseases. It will also lead to mitigate the further spread of diseases in the community.
 
Dr. George Sinyangwe, Permanent Secretary (Donor Coordination) of the Ministry of Health, representing Hon. Minister Sylvia Masebo, and Hon. Mike Mposha, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation in his capacity as the Member of Parliament for Munali Constituency, attended the ceremony and celebrated the signing.
 
During the ceremony, Ambassador Takeuchi appreciated the long-term friendship which ZATULET has maintained with Japanese people and hoped that it would continue to provide the quality medical care for the patients in their fight against the diseases.
 
To read the speech by Ambassador Takeuchi, please click here.