The Japanese government pledged on Monday (24) to finance a project to build a health center on Idugo Island, in the Quelimane district of Zambezia province, central Mozambique..

Budgeted at 78,900 dollars, equivalent to 4.9 million meticais, the project aims to increase patient care capacity by around 60%, reduce long waiting lines and the spread of contagious and potentially fatal diseases such as HIV, syphilis, dysentery, hypertension and others.

To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the director of the Zalala Foundation, Ângela Hadjipateras, on behalf of the Mozambican government, and the Ambassador of Japan representing the Japanese government, Hamada Keiji.

According to a AIMThe infrastructure is part of the Assistance Program for Community Projects and Human Security (APC).

The construction work, which is due to start in July this year, will last one year. The infrastructure will benefit around 12,000 inhabitants of Idugo Island, who will have improved access to medical consultations, a treatment room and in-house patient care.

"The Government of Japan decided to fund this project because Idugo Island, due to its geographical location, is surrounded by rivers which makes it difficult to access in cases where the population needs assistance. On the other hand, the island also has a lack of basic infrastructure, including medical facilities," said Hamada Keiji.

The diplomat said that his country's government had defined "improving health services" as a priority in its development cooperation policy for Mozambique, and recognized the importance of providing quality health care in the region.

The director of the Zalala Foundation said that she took the initiative to ask for support for the construction of the health center in that region because access to the center's health services was only possible by boat.

(Photo DR)