Japan Provides Funding Assistance for Construction of New Classrooms and Maintenance Work to Two Schools, Water Projects to Two Villages and Provision of New Medical Equipment to Labasa Hospital

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» Japan Provides Funding Assistance for Construction of New Classrooms and Maintenance Work to Two Schools, Water Projects to Two Villages and Provision of New Medical Equipment to Labasa Hospital

Embargo: Thursday, 18th December 2008, 11.00 a.m.

The Government of Japan provides assistance worth US$304,176.00 to Rambisessar Chaudhary Memorial Primary School, Naitasiri Bhartiya School, Nalebaleba Village, Vadraya village and Jafau Settlement and Labasa Hospital through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme.

The Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency, Mr. Yutaka Yoshizawa signed the grant contract with Mr. Roop Chand, the Head Teacher of Rambisessar Chaudhary Memorial Primary School, Mr. Shalendra Lal, the Manager of Naitasiri Bhartiya School, Mr. Ulaiasi Vasuitaukei, the Project Supervisor for Bolabola Water Project, Mr. Jone Bola, the Chairman of the Water Project Committee at Vadraya Village and Jafau Settlement and Dr. Samuela Korovou, the General Manager of Labasa Hospital, to formalise Japan’s funding assistance to the two schools, two villages and the hospital. The signing ceremony was hosted at the Embassy of Japan’s conference room, at 11.00 a.m. on Thursday 18th December, 2008.

Details of each project are as follows:

Project for Upgrading of Rambisessar Chaudhary Memorial Primary School
US$82,169.00 was provided for construction of a new three-classroom building complex, to Rambisessar Chaudhary Memorial Primary School. The School was established in 1949 to provide basic educational facilities for primary education. Presently, the school offers education to some 395 children, and, with limited number of classrooms, the school erected temporary classrooms inside the community hall to accommodate the increasing school roll. With the formalisation of Japan’s grant to the school, there is renewed hope for the children of Nausori, as this project will provide them with better opportunities for learning and academic success.
Project for Upgrading of Naitasiri Bhartiya School
US$44,247.00 was provided for replacement of roofing iron and renovation of ceiling of a seven classroom building complex to Naitasiri Bhartiya School. The School was established in 1945, and had deteriorated over the years with damages sustained mainly from floods which had affected the school roll for Naitasiri Bhartiya plummeting from a record high of 350 children in the late 1990’s to less than one hundred at present. The renovated building complex will not only instil confidence among the community, but also provide the students of Naitasiri a better place for learning and achieving success.
Project for Water Supply to Nalebaleba Village
US$83,398.00 was provided to Nalebaleba Village in the Sigatoka valley, some 30 kilometres away from Sigatoka town, for construction of two new ten thousand litres concrete water tanks and lay new pipes to upgrade the existing water supply system in the village. The new water supply system will ensure a regular water supply for everyday needs of the 850 people living in Nalebaleba and enhance prospects for further improvement in their life style.
Project for Water Supply to Vadraya Village and Jafau Settlement
US$60,696.00 was provided to Vadraya Village and Jafau Settlement along the coral coast in Sigatoka, for construction of 2 new ten thousand litres water storage tanks and develop a complete water supply system in the two villages. Presently, the two villages share a common bathroom for their daily use. The new water supply system will certainly enable the 200 people of Vadraya and Jafau village to enjoy hygienic facilities, in particular toilet and shower amenities which minimise health related and environmental risks.
Project for Provision of Medical Equipment to Labasa Hospital
US$33,666.00 worth of medical equipment was provided to the Physiotherapy Department. The modern medical equipment include ultrasonic therapy apparatus, traction unit, cycle ergo meters, mat platforms and hydro collator heating units. This new set of equipment will improvise the hospital’s ability to provide excellent physiotherapy services to the people of Northern Division. The project will not only replace the old equipment currently being used by patients, but also provide ultrasonic therapy apparatus and traction unit that was lacking at the hospital’s Physiotherapy Department, which will ensure the availability of effective and efficient physiotherapy treatment for the people in the Northern Division.

The Government of Japan believes that by providing assistance directly to recipients in Fiji not only ensures effective use of the grant, but also achieves Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy objective of promoting development at the grassroots level. Japan acknowledges basic necessities such as provision for good health care, education and water facilities is the key to socio-economic development and hopes to contribute in the improvement of the daily lives of the people of Fiji through its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects Programme (GGP). The Embassy is hopeful and confident that such cooperation shall serve to strengthen the friendly ties enjoyed by Japan and Fiji.