The Government of Japan provided a sum of approximately US$193,300.00 for upgrading structures for Nanumea and Nanumaga 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. Lutelu Faavae, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health of Tuvalu, and His Excellency Mr Yutaka Yoshizawa, the Ambassador of Japan to Tuvalu, at 10:30 a.m. on 1st March 2010 at the Embassy of Japan in Suva.

Nanumea and Nanumaga Health Centres have been essential clinics in both islands, due to its location far away from the main hospital in Tuvalu.  They have been providing primary health care in the islands, however, the old structure of wards and shortage of rooms often hindered the health centre’s ability to serve the people of outer islands.

hese assistances will also succeed following with the Vaitupu, Nui, and Niutao Health Centre project assisted by Japan in the last two years under the programme for upgrading medical infrastructure through outer islands of Tuvalu.

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.