Carla Chahrour

Japan on Wednesday provided a $88,318 or ¥12,110,559 grant through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program (GGP) to support the Baakleen Medical Center in Lebanon for a project that aims to equip the center’s polyclinics with specialized medical equipment, reconfirming the country’s commitment to stand by the people of Lebanon.

The Baakleen Medical Center is the only medical center in Baakleen, located within Chouf District in Mount Lebanon that can provide essential healthcare services, therefore the assistance has the potential to have an enormous impact on human health and longevity, as it aids in the reduction of  disparities in health care and lack of access to care in such rural areas.

The project will ensure that more than 9,000 patients annually are provided with access to a wide range of medical and healthcare services, diagnostic testing and an overall higher quality of medical consultations at an affordable cost.

The project completion ceremony was attended by Japan’s Ambassador to Lebanon Takeshi Okubo and the Manager of Baakleen Medical Center Akram Abou Ayash, who both presented congratulatory remarks.

The ceremony was launched with the national anthem of Japan and Lebanon, followed by a tour of the equipped facility.

Okubo delivered a speech in which he said that the Japanese government’s decision to support the project, which he deemed as “vital” falls within the framework of its vision to make comprehensive medical services accessible to all patients, particularly those that are most in need of assistance.

Ayash thanked the Japanese government for the grant and elaborated on the role that Japan has played in enhancing the healthcare services offered by the center through the provision of support during previous years through the implementation of several projects.

In a tweet posted by Okubo, he is seen placing stickers on the donated medical equipment that read “From the people of Japan,” in both English and Arabic, which momentarily connects the citizens of both countries to each other while demonstrating Japan’s objective to aid in the improvement of the country’s public health sector.

(Twitter/@TakeshiOkubo3)

Through this initiative, Japan is renewing its efforts to contribute to the alleviation of the repercussions of the socio-economic crisis on the country by addresing Lebanon’s need for developmental and humanitarian assistance, specifically in impoverished communities.