Ethiopia and Japan signed a grant agreement of $13.6 million today to help Ethiopia combat COVID-19. The grant will be used for the procurement of health and medical equipment, it was learned.

The grant will help provide radiography systems, portable ultrasound scanners, and other medical equipment to hospitals and medical universities throughout Ethiopia.

Signing the agreement were Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia's Minister of Finance, and Matsunaga Daisuke, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia. On the occasion, Ambassador Daisuke remarked the grant will contribute to enhancing measures being taken on the fight against COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases in Ethiopia.

“The health sector is one of Japan’s priorities in terms of support for Ethiopia, and as a friend of this great country, it is a pleasure to be able to contribute to the health and well-being of the Ethiopian people”, he said.

In addition to deepening the friendship of the people of Ethiopia and Japan, the grant will also strengthen the health care system in the country through the provision of health and medical equipment to hospitals and medical universities, Ambassador Daisuke pointed out, while reiterating Japan's efforts to support Ethiopia in the face of the coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major threat to the economy and society of every country in the world, including Japan and Ethiopia, it was learned.

The agreement signed today is a continuation of the August 2019 Yokohama TICAD-7 commitment to expand universal health coverage, and the African health and well-being initiatives, the Embassy of Japan in Addis Ababa indicated.

Source: ENA