The Sai Sanjeevani Childrens Hospital’s various community outreach program was given a major boost after the Japanese embassy gave a medical transporter worth $250,000 to the Sai Prema Foundation on Thursday.
Japanese interim charge d’affairs Mr Tanaka Kenichiro said the initiative was implemented through Japanese “Grassroots Grant Assistance Scheme”.
“I am proud to say since its inception in Fiji in 1990, Japan has implemented 421 grassroot grants project which are collectively worth more than $US31 million ($F68.9m) to assist grassroot communities in Fiji,” he said.
He said the Japanese Embassy decided to provide the assistance to Sai Sanjeevani Childrens Hospital because it was strongly committed to enhancing the quality of healthcare in Fiji.
“It will not only benefit rural communities, but also 2000 children annually who will be able to access heart scans and specialised heart disease diagnostic thanks to this mobile outreach. “It gives me great joy to report that the project will effectively address one of the priority areas in one Fiji’s important sectors.
“That is expanding access to medical services and specialist heart disease diagnostic especially for the benefit of Fijian children.”
Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital medical director Dr Krupali Tappoo said the vehicle would boost the hospital’s outreach child heart screening camps, particularly in rural areas where it was most needed.
“The hospital is commencing its school screening program and this vehicle will be very useful to reach out to schools throughout Fiji,” she said.
The Toyota Landcruiser multipurpose vehicle box body ambulance will be used to transport children to hospital and assist the Sai Sanjeevani free heart screening team reach children in rural communities.
