Samoa’s Ministry of Health (M.O.H) has received seven new ambulances from the Government of Japan costing $1.2 million tālā.
In accepting the assistance, Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele said the ambulances will be used at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital in Apia, Malietoa Tanumafili II hospital in Savaii and at some district hospitals.
“Today we witness the official handover of seven ambulance vehicles funded under the Government of Japan Grassroots grant project assistance for measles and other infectious diseases,” said the minister.
The ceremony also marked the official launch of the new Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital Ambulance Service Center funded by the Samoan government.
The Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan, Kazuo Tsukada, said his government understands the health sector faced inadequate supplies and equipment to combat the outbreak of measles in 2019 and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Therefore, Japan acknowledges the importance of proper equipment in the health sector and today’s occasion is the evident manifestation that Japan’s continuous support and firm commitment towards improving quality and quantity of medical equipment for effective health services,” he said.
