Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masashi Ogawa, visited the Nepal Red Cross Society and attended a ceremony for the handover of ambulances. Ambassador Ogawa, together with the Nepal Red Cross Chairperson Sanjeev Thapa, cut the ribbon.

Ambassador Ogawa then handed over the keys to the ambulances to Thapa. This Project for the Provision of Ambulances in Provincial Cities was funded through Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) by the Japanese Government. The total amount funded is 90,440 USD (equivalent to 9.8 million Nepali rupees).

“Out of the eight ambulances, four of them were sent to Pyuthan, Gulmi, Udayapur and Morang districts in November, 2016 and are currently well utilized for medical transportation and life-saving work. In addition, three new ambulances will be sent to Jajarkot, Rautahat and Dhankuta later this month. The remaining ambulance will be sent to Khotang district after the monsoon,” said a press release issued by Embassy of Japan.

Prior to this project, branches of the Nepal Red Cross in the above mentioned districts had only one ambulance; with some areas having no ambulance at all. Thus, it was difficult to respond to local calls for service, even in the case of accidents or to transport urgently needed blood. The ambulances provided through this project are four-by-four vehicles (4WD), providing safe and reliable service even under the challenging road conditions in Nepal.

“The Embassy of Japan hopes that with the success of this project, not only will people in provincial cities and remote areas have easier access to emergency health services, but that there will be enhanced cordial friendship between Japan and Nepal,” said Embassy of Japan.