Japan Provides $145,000 Grant for Trinamool Healthcare Project

Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, has once again extended a hand of friendship to support the development of Bangladesh’s health sector and bring modern healthcare services to the doorsteps of marginalised people. The Japanese government has provided a grant of US$145,000 to strengthen tuberculosis diagnosis and screening activities among underprivileged and slum-dwelling communities in Dhaka. The financial assistance is being provided under Japan’s renowned Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

A grant agreement in this regard was formally signed on Tuesday (October 6) at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and representatives of the internationally renowned medical research organisation icddr,b signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

According to embassy sources, the grant will be used to implement a project to procure a Land Cruiser vehicle for tuberculosis diagnosis in underprivileged areas of Dhaka. Under the project, icddr,b will purchase a state-of-the-art Toyota Land Cruiser and a Fujifilm portable digital X-ray unit. The mobile vehicle will provide free tuberculosis screening to around 9,000 people every year in slum areas and underserved communities across Dhaka. This will help bring previously undiagnosed patients under treatment at an early stage while also helping prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

Ichiro Kashitani, vice chairman of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, was present at the grant agreement signing ceremony. Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Fujifilm will jointly provide technical training on the vehicle and X-ray equipment used in the project. The project will bring together advanced Japanese technology and icddr,b’s expertise in public health.

At the ceremony, Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi said, “Japan places the highest importance on human security, including protecting people’s lives and dignity. Through this mobile project, Japan is fulfilling its long-standing commitment by bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of those who remain excluded from mainstream healthcare due to various barriers.”

Officials concerned hope that icddr,b, through this grant, will help bring modern healthcare services to the doorsteps of marginalised communities and create a new milestone in Bangladesh’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis.