Arab News Japan

Japan to provide Jordan’s Ministry of Health with a $3.7 million (¥389,766,004) grant to aid in the country’s battle against the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, under an agreement signed by the two countries on July 27.

The grant, which was signed at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation in Jordan, also aims to support the public health system through the provision of medical equipment, such as Digital Radiography Systems and CT Scannersto enable the strengthening of the healthcare sector and enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Health, which falls under Jordan’s Economic and Social Development Programme, according to a press release by the Embassy of Japan in Jordan.

The agreement was signed by government officials from the two sides, with the Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Hidenao Yanagi, signing on behalf of the Japanese government and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Wissam Rabadi, signing on behalf of the Jordanian government.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jordan’s Health Minister Saad Jaber and relevant officials.

At the signing ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador to Jordan commended the preventive measures implemented by Jordan to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

“Today, every country is fighting against the spread of COVID-19. Japan commends that Jordan has so far succeeded in preventing the spread of the epidemic. Nevertheless, this combat against the COVID-19 will take long time. For that reason, I would like to reiterate that strengthening the health system in each country is essential. Moreover, Japan has been working towards the realisation of universal health coverage for many years. Therefore, we are very pleased to be able to extend this assistance valued approximately 3.7 million US Dollars. I wish that the new grant will contribute to Jordan’s fight against COVID-19 and life-saving efforts,” Yanagi said, according to the press release.

Yanagi also reiterated the collaborative efforts between the two countries by mentioning the telephone call between the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Jordanian ruler King Abdullah II in April 2019, where the leaders agreed to work together to prevent the spread of the virus, adding that this grand is an embodiment of the cooperation between two countries.

The Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation said at a press conference that the grant is part of the emergency aid package that the Japanese government had recently announced offering the provision of medical equipment to countries fighting COVID-19.

“This urgent support by the Japanese government is designed to provide medical equipment to strengthen the public health and medical system in the recipient country affected by COVID-19, including Jordan,” Rabadi said.

In a statement, the Minister stressed the “deep bilateral relations” between the two countries on various levels, mentioning that Japanese support to Jordan through 2009 to date amount to nearly ¥180,000,00,000.

“Jordan has received nearly $1.7 billion, of which $599.42 million were in the form of grants and the rest in soft loans, as well as technical assistance provided to Jordan through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency,” Rabadi said.

“I would like to reiterate our appreciation to the Japanese government for its generous financial and technical assistance, and we look forward to not only maintaining, but rather expanding our cooperation in the future to help us address various challenges and implement priority projects,” Rabadi added.

Further stressing the bilateral relations, the Jordanian Health Minister affirmed that the agreement “confirms the true partnership” between Japan and Jordan, and referred to mutual assistance between the two countries, specifically during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Jordanian government provided support to the Japanese government during the COVID-19 crisis by providing personal protection material, and now Japan is providing support to the Kingdom in the field of medical equipment,” Jaber said.

Jaber also highlighted the close medical cooperation between the two governments in fighting against the pandemic, pointing to an ongoing study on an anti-viral drug that is being conducted in Japan, which Jordan was selected to take part in.