Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health have signed a bilateral agreement for an emergency technical cooperation grant to strengthen the COVID-19 Response in the island nation.

Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Yamada Tetsuya, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka Office, signed the agreement,  ColomboPage reported.

The project primarily focuses on the provision of equipment, which is essential for COVID-19 treatment such as ventilators, ICU beds, ultrasound scanners, blood gas analyzers.

In addition, the project will provide equipment for establishing a PCR laboratory in District General Hospital Hambantota to strengthen its infection diagnostic capacities in the Sothern Province where currently many challenges to expedite PCR tests are experienced.

Further, the project provides training seminars to medical staff in selected hospitals on strengthening nosocomial infection prevention, patient safety, and case management related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases through Japanese experts remotely. Total budget allocation to this project is USD 1.8  Million (approximately Rs.350 Million) under Japan’s Official Development Assistance.

(SAM)