Japan $2.7m to improve Zimbabwe pediatrics

Japan and Zimbabwe have signed a very important agreement.

The coronavirus outbreak, lassa fever, Ebola and many other diseases keep making it obvious to the world that the health sector is critical sector to human existence.

Hospitals are an essential part of the health system, so it’s so sad that many Africa hospitals are not up to world standard.

One such Africa hospital that should soon be able to provide better services for its needy patients is the Harare Children’s Hospital which Japan is going to assist with a comprehensive range of medical and hospital equipment to ensure a high standard of health service delivery for both children and mothers.

The value of the new equipment is around $2.7m.

Japan’s HCH assistance dates back to 1998 when it was constructed and equipped through grant aid provided by Japan and Canada.

It comprised an intensive care unit, neonatal unit, outpatient and casualty departments and an administration block. It is the largest hospital for children in Zimbabwe with a total bed capacity of 350 and an average of 10,000 children admitted annually. A further 45,000 children receive services as outpatients.

Japan has continued to provide assistance to the hospital over the years, and JICA is currently providing technical assistance to the hospital staff through the 5S-Kaizen-TQM project. This project uses a Japanese organisational approach to greatly improve the hospital management and ensure a high quality of services by involving all hospital staff.

Unfortunately, the deterioration in the economic situation over the past two decades has resulted in a decline of health delivery standards at the hospital, with the result that it has been in need of refurbishment and upgrading of its medical equipment. 

The medical and hospital equipment to be provided through this grant will include, among others, X-ray systems, bedside ICU and CCU monitors, an ultrasound scope, emergency ventilators, operation and examination equipment and beds, cots and operation and examination tables.

One of Japan’s development priorities is promotion of the improvement of the public health system, especially for children and women, and it provides needy countries with non-reimbursable funds to procure the facilities, equipment and services to fulfill basic human needs and contribute to the economic and social development of the country.

Since such aid is not accompanied by an obligation for repayment, it’s extremely advantageous for the recipient country and doesn’t cause any financial burden.