| Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura (1 st from the left) led the ribbon cutting during the turnover ceremony of The Project for Installation of an X-Ray Machine in the Radiology Department of San Lazaro Hospital on March 14, 2011. The photo also shows Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona (2 nd from the left) and Dr. Engique A. Tayag( 3 rd from the left), Officer-in-Charge of San Lazaro Hospital and the concurrent Director IV of the National Epidemiology Center. |
The newly procured X-Ray machine in the Radiology Department of San Lazaro Hospital
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Japanese Ambassador Makoto Ka ts ura led the turnover ceremony of “The Project for the Installation of an X-Ray Machine in the Radiology Department of San Lazaro Hospital” on 14 March 2011. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona and Dr. Enrique A. Tayag, Officer-in-Charge of San Lazaro Hospital and the concurrent Director IV of the National Epidemiology Center, also witnessed the turnover. The project, amounting to US$79,724 (approximately 3.7 million pesos), is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
San Lazaro Hospital is known as the national referral center in the Philippines for infectious diseases such as pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis. The hospital has a 500-bed capacity and provides free health care service particularly for the underprivileged sectors of the society.
Before this project was implemented, the Radiology Department of the hospital ha d only one functioning X-ray machine which could only accommodate 20-30 patients per day. It was also difficult for the patients of the hospital to avail of private clinics, considering their average income only reaches 2,500-3,500 pesos per month.
With the grant assistance, San Lazaro Hospital purchase d a new X-ray machine to improve the service for its patients suffering from infectious diseases. The Radiology Department is expected to increase the number of patients who can have access to X-ray procedures (around 70 patients per day).
In his speech, Ambassador Katsura st ated that an additional X-ray machine is critical in making a correct diagnosis for infectious diseases and preventing their progress. He also stressed that t his project is another manifestation of Japan's efforts in battling infectious diseases on a global basis.
Japan, as the top donor of the official development assistance for the Philippines, launched GGP in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. As of March 2011, 441 grassroots projects funded by GGP – ranging from roughly 1 to 4 million pesos – have been implemented by NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations. The total grant for these projects so far amounts to US$19,834,078. It is expected that this project will further contribute to strengthening the friendly ties between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines as well as fostering a strategic partnership between the two countries towards the future.
Speech of Ambassador Makoto Katsura
Japanese Version
