THE government of Japan, through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), donated medical equipment Friday, April 1, to the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-Barmm) and Department of Health-Zamboanga Peninsula.
The medical equipment received by MOH-Barmm include two units of sea ambulance worth P6.5 million, 18 vaccine carriers, six units Genexpert testing machines, 24,000 antigen testing kits, and 18 units of solar direct-drive vaccine refrigerators, while the DOH-Zamboanga Peninsula gets three cold chain vehicles.
The medical equipment are intended for the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Kazuhiko Koshikawa, ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, and Troy Dooley, IOM-Philippines officer-in-charge, led the turnover of the medical equipment to the recipients Friday, April 1, in Zamboanga City.
"It is our first time to provide sea ambulances. When I see the vessels this morning, I was gratified to know these vessels will greatly contribute to transportation of emergency cases," Koshikawa said.
While years of underdevelopment and conflict have left Barmm less prepared for health emergencies than the other parts of the country, communities in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi have disproportionately limited access to health, including coronavirus testing, vaccination and treatment due to its geographical remoteness and security concerns.
"The assistance comes at a very opportune time as the government boosts its efforts to recover from the pandemic and strengthen its Covid-19 vaccination program across the country," Dooley said.
"We believe that the provided equipment will contribute to ensuring that no one, including the vulnerable populations such as migrants, returnees, and the Internally Displace Persons, are not left behind in these critical services," he added.
Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim expressed his gratitude to the government of Japan and IOM for donating medical equipment intended for the three island provinces.
"The global pandemic came at one of our most important political phases -- the transition period. I hope that the key medical equipment will be of use of dear brothers and sisters in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi," Ebrahim said in an audio-visual message.
As Barmm government aspires to fulfill its mandate by 2025 regional election, the IOM and Japanese government strongly hope that the assistance will help reduce the Covid-19 induced constraints and challenges in achieving lasting peace and development.
"Japan firmly believes that peace is the foundation for happiness. It is the hope of the government of Japan and Japanese people that the people living in Mindanao will be able to enjoy peaceful and fulfilled lives," Koshikawa said.
"To achieve this goal, Japan commits to continuously supporting the Mindanao peace process and the implement of various development projects," Koshikawa added.
With funding of more than $2.7 million from the Japanese government, the IOM has been conducting series of health and emergency preparedness interventions to support the region's Covid-19 prevention and response. (SunStar Zamboanga)