The Government of Japan provided a sum of US$137,347.00 for upgrading structures for Nukufetau and Nukulaelae Health Centres in Tuvalu. The funding was sourced from Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme.

The Grant Contract formalising Japan’s assistance was signed between Mr Uale Taleni, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health of Tuvalu, and His Excellency Mr Yutaka Yoshizawa, the Ambassador of Japan to Tuvalu, at 11:00 a.m., on 23rd March 2011 at Conference Room of the Government Complex Building, Funafuti.

Nukufetau and Nukulaelae Health Centres have been providing primary health care in the both islands. The shortage of wards often hindered the health centre’s ability to serve the people of outer islands. These assistances will succeed the Vaitupu Health Centre project assisted by Japan in 2008 followed by Niutao and Nui Health Centre projects in 2009, Nanumea and Nanumaga Health Centre projects in 2010 respectively.

The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training, sanitary environment and rural infrastructure. Japan’s assistance to these projects indicates its commitment to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of the people in Tuvalu and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at grassroots level. Projects for rehabilitation of health centres in islands of Tuvalu have been prioritised in Tuvalu’s National Strategic Plan and Japan has decided to assist in the upgrading of Nukufetau and Nukulaelae Health Centres as fairly urgent projects in this sector. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Tuvalu and Japan.