The Japanese government has granted $15 million to the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Jamaica to purchase an ambulance for the Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny.
The grant was signed and presented on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at the Ministry's New Kingston offices. Speaking at the ceremony, Portfolio Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton described the grant support is "another tangible demonstration of the partnership between the two countries."
He also noted that the area to be served by the ambulance is one where "the need for mobility, logistics to and from the hospital is always great." Dr. Tufton also praised Japan for being one of Jamaica's strongest partners, as he said that they (Japan) have made significant investments in the island's agriculture and energy sectors and is the largest market for Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee.
Dr. Tufton also highlighted Japan's support for Jamaica during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of US$1.8 million in grant funding. Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Yasuhiro Atsumi said that the support was provided under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project (GGP).
In Jamaica, the GGP addresses Basic Human Needs (BHN) in areas such as poverty reduction, natural disaster response, education, health, gender issues, and the environment. "When we provide funding to our partners from the GGP programme, we make sure that it will assist crucial sectors such as health," the Ambassador said.
"That is why we have been continuously working with hospitals such as Mandeville, Spanish Town, and St Ann's Bay." The new ambulance will be a welcome addition to the Falmouth Public General Hospital, which serves a large and growing community in Trelawny.
The hospital's current ambulance fleet is aging and in need of replacement. The new ambulance will help the hospital to improve its emergency response capabilities and provide better care to its patients.
