KUCHING, July 4: The Japanese government today has donated RM154,000 worth of medical equipment to the Sarawak Family Planning Association (SFPA) as a sign of goodwill.
Head of the Consular Office of Japan in Kota Kinabalu Kako Shiho said the association was in urgent need of support due to the old condition of the existing equipment.
“On March 2022, the Consular Office of Japan in Kota Kinabalu received the application for grant from the SFPA and according to the application, the association is in urgent need of support as the existing quality is not good enough to fulfil its purpose and continue its activity therefore, it must obtain new sustainable equipment immediately,” she said during the handing over ceremony between the Japanese Embassy and Sarawak Family Planning Association at Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching here, today.
She further added that the Japanese government previously donated medical devices and tools to the association in 2010, 2013 and 2018 totaling RM7 million to 52 projects across Sabah and Sarawak.
The association is a non-profit that has provided healthcare services for women, especially in rural areas in Sarawak at a reasonable cost for more than 50 years.
Its activities have contributed to improving the health conditions of women in Sarawak, especially the underprivileged without easy access to hospitals.
Also present were the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Patron of Sarawak Family Planning Association Dato Yong Khoon Seng, Head of Consular of Japan, Kota Kinabalu Eguchi Takayoshi and the Medical Chairman of Sarawak Family Planning Association Dr Philip Kho. – TVS
