By Zivanai Dhewa

Following the signing ceremony of the Exchange of Notes for COVID-19 Response Support Project between Zimbabwe and Japan in Harare yesterday, the Japanese government pledged its support for Zimbabwe’s development, the Harare Post can report.

In a press statement at the signing ceremony, Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Toshiyuki Iwado, guaranteed Japan’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s development.

“Japan believes that for Zimbabwe to achieve further development in a sustainable manner, the strengthening of the health sector and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage is vitally important, Japan remains committed to supporting the Government of Zimbabwe in improving the country’s health care system.

H.E Iwado said that, “Through the new equipment, as well as the improved hospital management by means of the 5S-Kaien-ToQM project, I sincerely hope that the standard of health service delivery at the hospitals will be much higher for as many patients as possible and for many years to come.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe is set to deliver yet another set of hospital equipment to the Sally Mugabe Children’s Hospital through a Grant Aid of US$2.7 million, signed in January this year. 

“The equipment for Sally Mugabe hospital will include, among others, X-ray systems, bedside ICU and CCU monitors, an ultrasound scope, emergency ventilators, operation and examination equipment as well as beds, cots, operation and examination tables,” said Ambassador Iwado.

It is expected that these two grants for essential equipment will enable the recipient hospitals to have increased capacities to treat patients with COVID-19 as well as other conditions, and thereby improving health care systems in Zimbabwe in the long term.