Japan grants Sudan $4.5m for immunization programmes

Aug 23, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Japan decided Wednesday to offer $4.5 million in grants to help the improvement of expanded immunization programmes in the Sudan.

The government of Japan decided to extend a grant aid of the total amount of 4.5 million US dollars for expanding a range of health services, including essential immunization, malaria prevention and training of health workers, said a press release by the Embassy of Japan in Khartoum.

This grant aid will be directed through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The Embassy said the contribution comes as part of the Japan’s assistance towards reconstruction and rehabilitation in Sudan announced on the occasion of Oslo donor’s conference in last April.

As of August 2006, all of pledged amount, 100 million US dollars, has been disbursed to some specific humanitarian projects, the press release added.

The notes are exchanged on Wednesday, 23 August, 2006 at the Japanese embassy in Khartoum between Masayuki Makiya, Ambassador of Japan to the Sudan and Ted Chaiban, representative of the UNICEF office in the Sudan.

The government of Japan affirms keenness on strengthening friendship bonds between the Japanese and Sudanese people and to contribute in the humanitarian efforts, the press release said.

(ST)