Japan hands over medical equipment to Al Maqased Charity Hospital

AMMAN — Japan on Monday handed over medical equipment to Al Maqased Charity Hospital with the aim of strengthening services for vulnerable people during a virtual event.

Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan Shimazaki Kaoru and General Manager of Al Maqased Charity Hospital Ali Al Sa’ad attended the virtual handover ceremony, according to a Japanese embassy statement.

In 2020, Japan extended a grant of $89,985 to Al Maqased Charity Hospital for the provision of medical equipment under a scheme called Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP), which aims to improve basic human needs at the grass-roots level through NGOs and local governments.

This grant assistance aims to improve the quality of medical service at Al Maqased Charity Hospital for socially vulnerable people, including refugees by providing one ultra sound diagnostic system with the electrocardiogram function and 20 hospital beds.  

Since its establishment in 2014, Al Maqased Charity Hospital has provided vital, urgent, and indispensable lifesaving medical care services for 24 hours to patients at affordable price.  

As the hospital receives referrals from other hospitals, international NGOs and Syrian refugee camps, this project is expected to contribute to providing more accurate and speedy diagnosis with patients regardless of their nationalities, social background and economic situation, the statement said.

In the speech delivered during the handover ceremony, Ambassador Shimazaki emphasised the importance of the project.

 “The pandemic of COVID-19 has a significantly negative impact on the economy of Jordan and widened the social difference between the rich and the poor. Therefore, Universal Health Coverage, the concept that all individuals and communities should be able to receive necessary health services without suffering financial hardship, has become increasingly important. I sincerely hope that new equipment has enabled doctors to provide more accurate and immediate diagnosis and the required treatments for vulnerable people who lack access to sufficient medical services,” the ambassador said.

Under the GGP, Japan has extended more than $10 million for 151 projects to non-governmental organisations, schools, hospitals, and local governments in Jordan since 1993.