Japan has provided a grant aid worth USD 5.6 million, to the Maldives.

An Exchange of Notes was signed by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Japanese Ambassador Keiko Yanai, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

According to the foreign ministry, the 600,000,000 Japanese yen is to be utilized to “procure medical equipment required to strengthen the capacities of health facilities in atolls/islands”.

Equipment including 10 bedside X-ray machines, 65 bedside monitors, 19 portable ultrasound image diagnostic systems, 200 automated external defibrillators and 160 syringe pumps are to be provided under this grant.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Shahid expressed appreciation to the Government and the people of Japan, for the “timely and important” grant aid as Maldives continues fight against Covid-19.

Ambassador Yanai highlighted “the importance of solidarity among international community to fight against the pandemic” and further highlighted on Japan’s commitment to actively collaborate in this regard.

The Japanese government had last month, Japan provided a grant of USD 356,400 for UNICEF Maldives and USD 185,000 for Maldives Red Crescent to assist the Maldivian government’s Covid-19 response efforts. The country has also committed a grant of USD 1.4 million to the UNDP Maldives in support of small and medium enterprises in agri-businesses affected by COVID-19.

Maldivian officials, at multiple platforms, have reiterated the importance of support from international partners in containing and overcoming pandemic.