Japanese gift: Equipment worth Rs103m handed over to PIMS

New endoscopes, ultrasound, radiography equipment given.

ISLAMABAD:

Japan ambassador Hiroshi Inomata on Wednesday handed over equipment worth Rs103 million to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

The handing over ceremony, held at the Children’s Hospital, was also attended by the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) vice chancellor and other officials.

The equipment includes two endoscopes, an autoclave, 10 diagnostic ultrasound systems, one computed radiography unit and a forklift.

Inomata said that the Japan-made equipment has carefully been chosen in order to improve the capacity and quality of medical services at the Pims to meet growing healthcare needs.

“Today’s provision of equipment under the Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) scheme was part of continued commitment to partnership with Pims,” said the ambassador.

“All these instruments were produced and made in the area affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit east of Japan on March 11, 2011,” said Inomata.

He said that one of the most significant aspects of the assistance was that the people in the disaster-affected areas of Japan were ready to help Pakistan by overcoming their own difficulties, which represented the resilience of Japan’s economy. “A friend in need is a friend indeed. Today’s contribution to the Pims by the Japanese people symbolises the strong partnership between both the countries in times of difficulties,” he said.

“The new equipment, especially the ultrasound systems and endoscopes, are much smaller and faster than the ones that the hospital has been using,” he said.

The SZABMU VC assured the ambassador that the equipment will be best utilised to provided health services.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2014.