Japan donates mobile medical facilities to SA

THE Embassy of Japan has donated a mobile HIV clinic along with a gynaecological facility to two of South Africa’s rural communities.

Residents of Maboloka in Madibeng, in the North West Province, were granted an HIV/Aids mobile testing centre to the value of R400 000, courtesy of the Embassy of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) initiative last month.

Japanese diplomat for political and public affairs Taro Sawada, who handed the mobile clinic over to the Maboloka HIV/Aids Awareness Organisation (MAHAAO), said the mobile clinic would move to different rural communities, providing solutions in addressing the gap in access to medical services in remote areas.

“The wide prevalence of HIV and Aids is one of the biggest health issues facing South Africa.

“According to the statistics by UNAids, South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world, with as high as 19% of the total population living with HIV. Through GGP initiative, the Embassy of Japan will continue to take an active role in fighting the HIV/ Aids pandemic in South Africa.”

MAHAAO chief executive Isaac Mmelene said: “The mobile clinic funded by Japan will enable MAHAAO to treat more than 150 people a month in different areas.

“And if one is identified as HIV-positive, they are channelled to the local clinic or are helped at the MAHAAO hospice if necessary.” GGP also handed over a gynaecological facility to the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital in Limpopo. The gynaecological facility, valued at R1 million, would contribute to improving the survival rate and health conditions of pregnant women, post-partum women, newborns and children, said Sawada.

These hand overs were the latest in the series of Japan’s GGPs initiatives.

To date, over 630 GGPs have been implemented throughout South Africa with the aim of helping address educational and health service, vocational training and other basic human needs at grass-roots level.

The application intake for GGP is available now. Only registered nonprofit organisations with at least three years’ experience in the sector of the proposed project are eligible to apply for GGP initiatives at https://www. za.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/ODA.html.