Japan Donates Two Ambulances to Ministry of Health and Wellness
A grant contract signing ceremony was held today at the Vaccination Unit on the Western Regional Hospital compound in Belmopan. Through partnership with the Embassy of Japan and the Pan American Health Organization, Belize was the recipient of two ambulances to add to its fleet. While the ceremony held today was more for formality, the ambulances are already in country and will soon be in use by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Two new ambulances are being acquired by the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan and the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk to help improve the medical services in those regions. While overall, it is critical to the social and economic development of the country, the ambulances will strengthen the emergency response transportation mechanism.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness
Kevin Bernard
“We continuously look at ways how we can enhance our fleet of ambulances. We have done a lot of EMT training across the country and so as we train more people we need to ensure that we have the necessary resources which is the ambulances to be able to provide additional services to our residents because there were a few older ambulances and so we had to ensure that we are trying to upgrade our fleet. Over this year alone, we have gotten, I think between the purchases from the ministry and grants that we have received through the Japanese Government and including the Taiwanese Government and our local funding, I think we have acquired about eight ambulances so far that have been sent across the country. So this is just going to be an additional two that will continue to enhance the service that we provide to the citizens of this country, especially in these areas.”
Valued at a little over two hundred and twelve thousand U.S. dollars, the donation was made possible through the signing of a Grassroots and Human Security Grant Contract between the Embassy of Japan and the Western Regional Hospital.
Nobuyuki Shirakata
Nobuyuki Shirakata, Japanese Ambassador to Belize
“The program is by Japanese Embassy to an NGO or local government or regional entity or government.”
Reporter
“Talk to us about the continued partnership between Belize and Japan.”
Nobuyuki Shirakata
“We donated ambulances, garbage truck in some parts of Belize. We hope as an entity, local government or N.G.O. apply this program. Every year, we donate one or two programs in Belize.”
Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard confirms that the ambulances are already in country.
Kevin Bernard
“The ambulances are already here actually, so this is just the formalities. They are already at the supplier; I believe the Japanese Government utilized Belize Diesel, so if you pass by Belize Diesel, you would see the two ambulances parked in their area already. So those will be handed over officially at some point.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
