“Extended support from JICA to Strengthen Health Sector Urgencies in Sri Lanka”
Handover Ceremony: Supply of Essential Medicines to Cater to Urgent Needs
JICA is extending its continued support and cooperation to Sri Lanka in the needs of significant attention from the development partners around the globe to protect the public health security.
On 30th January 2023, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) together with Ministry of Health held handover ceremony of Essential Medicines at the office of Minister of Health with the presence of Hon. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Mr. S.Janaka Sri Chandraguptha
Secretary, Dr. Sunil de Alwis, Additional Secretary (Medical Services), Dr. Asela Gunawardhana, Director General of Health Services from Ministry of Health; Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office; and senior officials from Embassy of Japan, Ministry of Health Sri Lanka and JICA Sri Lanka office.
These medicines were urgently procured by increasing the budget of the on-going technical cooperation project “Strengthening COVID-19 Response” in order to alleviate the shortage of medicines that has occurred under the economic crisis.
The medicines procured were (bacterial) antibiotics (Cefotaxime for Inj. 1g Vial; Ceftriaxone for 1g Vial and Vancomycin Inj. 1g Vial). These medicines are to be administered in cases of fungal or bacterial pneumonia, especially to people with impaired immunity, such as patients undergoing diabetes treatment or dialysis, patients with various immune system diseases, etc., who have ‘underlying disease that may lead to severe illness’ caused by the COVID-19. Value of this grant is around Rs. 104 Million, which will ensure the availability of those medicines for the coming few months for the whole country.
“Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office mentioned that JICA continually provided cooperation to the Health sector during emergencies such a Covid-19 outbreak and this essential medicine supply is also part of the “Project for Strengthening Covid-19 Response in Sri Lanka”. He further emphasized the JICA hope this essential medicine supply save lives of the people in Sri Lanka”
“Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health highly appreciated the continuous cooperation extended by JICA not only during the Covid-19 pandemic but also during this difficult time to the country. Hon. Minister further emphasized the friendly relation and cooperation of JICA, Japanese government and People of Japan always for their willingness and support to Sri Lanka especially during the situation that needs more external support”
