November 19, 2010
Japan's Assistance for Safe Mother-and-Childhood through Promoting Capacity Development in Rupendehi
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The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of 197,547 US Dollars; equivalent to approximately 14,025,800 Nepalese Rupees to AMDA Multisectoral and Integrated Development Services (AMDA-MINDS) under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan’s FY 2010. AMDA-MINDS will implement the Project for Safe Mother-and-Childhood through Promoting Capacity Development In 16 Rural Villages in Rupandehi in coordination with the District Development Committee, District Public Health Office and local NGOs.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Ms. Maiko KOBAYASHI, Project Manager, in charge of Nepal office of AMDA- MINDS Japan.
Under the project, AMDA-MINDS will utilize the grant exclusively to promote capacity development for Safe Mother-and-Childhood in 16 villages in four VDCs, namely, Mainahiya, Haati Bangaai, Kamhariya, and Dhamauli in Rupandehi District. Specifically, in order to improve the access to safe maternal health facilities for approximately 640 women, AMDA-MINDS will upgrade medical equipment at Sub Health Posts and run reproductive health workshops as awareness campaigns. In addition, targeted women will be provided with other safe mother-and-childhood related services such as nutritional guidance, capacity building assistance, and access to community funds for emergency purposes. At the same time, AMDA-MINDS will help to build solidarity among local mothers’ groups in cooperation with local governments.
AMDA-MINDS has many years' experience in running maternal health service projects in Nepal under various assistance scheme from the Government of Japan. In Rupandehi District, AMDA-MINDS had a project from 2009 to 2010 under “Postal Saving for International Voluntary Aid in Japan”, and a safe mother-and-childhood project has been implemented in Nawalparashi District under JICA’s Grassroots Technical Cooperation Scheme. AMDA-Nepal implemented the Project for Construction of a Health Manpower Development Center in Damak in 1996 and the Project for Construction of the AMDA Mechi Hospital in Mechinagar, Jhapa District in 2006, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan. AMDA Nepal’s Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital was established at Butwal with financial contribution from the Japanese people and NGO project subsidies from Japanese Government. The hospital program has been successful since 1998.
Speaking at the function, H.E. Mr MIZUNO reiterated the necessity of improving primary health services and safe mother-and-childhood facilities in rural areas in Nepal, and expressed his belief that this project implemented by AMDA-MINDS Japan, will benefit the local communities in Rupandehi and contribute to improve women’s overall health condition. Furthermore, H.E. Mr MIZUNO expressed his expectation that the project will strengthen the friendly and cordial relationship between the people of Japan and Nepal for years to come.
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