February 28, 2003
 Japan's Grant for Ambulances
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The Embassy of Japan in Nepal has decided to provide financial assistance totalling forty thousand, two hundred and twenty US dollars (US$40,220), equivalent to approximately three million, one hundred twenty-seven thousand, one hundred and five Nepalese rupees (NRs.3,127,105) to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and Maiti Nepal for the implementation of the Project for the Supply of Used Ambulances in JFY 2002 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.
Grant contracts to this effect were signed today between His Excellency Mr. Zenji KAMINAGA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Prof. Dr. Mahendra Nepal, Executive Director of TUTH, and Ms. Armina Lama, Acting Director of Maiti Nepal. Under the projects, TUTH will be provided two (2) ambulances and one (1) ambulance for Maiti Nepal. The ambulances have been donated by the local governments of Japan. The ambulances have been donated by the local governments of Japan. The Government of Japan will bear the transportation charge for the ambulances from Japan to Nepal.
Under the first contract, the Embassy of Japan is providing twenty six thousand, three hundred and forty-six US dollars (US$26,346), equivalent to approximately two million, forty-eight thousand, four hundred and two Nepalese rupees (NRs.2,048,402) to implement the project. TUTH will bear the operation and maintenance costs of the ambulances. The objective of the project is to upgrade the existing emergency services of TUTH and to provide quality emergency services. It is expected that the project will help reduce the mortality caused by the insufficient ambulance services at present.
Under the second contract, the Embassy of Japan is providing thirteen thousand, eight hundred and seventy-four US dollars (US$13,874), equivalent to approximately one million, seventy-eight thousand, seven hundred and four Nepalese rupees (NRs.1,078,704) to Maiti Nepal to implement the project. Maiti Nepal will bear the operation and maintenance costs of the ambulance. At present, Maiti Nepal is in need of an ambulance for HIV positive women and children, rescued from Indian brothels, who need to be transported to the hospitals in order to receive medical treatment in time; other ambulances usually hesitate or refuse to do so. Hence, the ambulance will be used exclusively by Maiti Nepal for the purpose of helping HIV patients, victims of trafficking, pregnant women etc. to commute to the hospitals for timely medical treatment. Besides this, the services will also be made available to the inhabitants of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts for emergency use.
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