Press Releases

» Japan's Aid Benefits Kiribati's Tungaru Central Hospital

The Government of the Republic of Kiribati will hold a ceremony to mark the opening of the new specialist clinics building for the Tungaru Central Hospital funded by the People and Government of Japan. Dr. Takeieta B. Keinene, the Permanent Secretary for Health will officially open the new facilities on 20th June 2005 at Tungaru Central Hospital.

Tungaru Central Hospital was established in 1945 to provide curative care services to the people of Kiribati. Overtime the hospital's role has expanded with the growth in Kiribati's population and the existence of new diseases such as HIV/AIDS. These resulted in need for specialist clinics space. The Government of Japan, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme provided funding of US$57,820.00 (approx. A$98,294.00) for the construction of the new specialist clinics building.

The new building will provide medical services in the highly specialised areas such as physiotherapy, tuberculosis, leprosy, hypertension and HIV/AIDS. The new facilities would enable the hospital officials to effectively implement the specialised areas health programme through regular clinic period, diagnosis, treatment, counselling and follow - up.

Japan's assistance to this project indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of people in Kiribati and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level. The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training and rural infrastructure. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Kiribati and Japan.