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| Japan, UNICEF Sign 162M Yen Deal Today |
| Published on February 05, 2010 | Email To Friend Print Version
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The Government of Japan and the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) will today sign a grant agreement of 162 million Japanese Yen ((approx. US$1.8M) for improvement of the health and well being of children in Liberia.
The signing ceremony will take place in UNICEF conference room in Mamba Point beginning at 10 a.m., a UNICEF statement said.
Mr. Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, and Ms. Isabel Crowley,
Representative of UNICEF Liberia, will exchanging notes for the grant agreement in the presence of Liberia's health Minister Dr. Walter Gwanegale.
The grant agreement will be signed by Mr. Kunihiro Yamauchi, the Chief Representative of JICA for Liberia and Ms. Isabel Crowley, UNICEF Representative.
The Government of Japan continues to support the health and development of children in Liberia through UNICEF. The latest grant will support the project for Infectious Diseases Prevention among Children and contribute towards reducing the under-five child mortality rate of Liberia.
Liberia's infant and under-5 mortality rates remain among the five highest in the world. More than 15 per cent of children die before reaching their first birthday, according to information posted on UNICEF's website, detailing issues facing children in Liberia.
It furthers that preventable diseases like malaria and measles are among the leading killers of children while malnutrition and respiratory infections kill thousands of children each year.
The UN Children agency states that nearly 40 per cent of children under age five suffer from stunting as a result of malnutrition as nearly 40 per cent of the population does not have access to safe water, and nearly 75 per cent does not have access to adequate sanitation.
The country's more than 14 year bloody “Armed conflict, HIV/AIDS and other diseases have orphaned an estimated 230,000 children, while half a million children do not attend school. Two thirds of students are being taught by unqualified teachers. Girls' enrolment rates lag far behind those for boys,” information on the agency website states.
Liberia and Japan established Diplomatic Relation in Sep., 1961, and Japan has contributed immensely to the rebuilding of post wear Liberia.
Late last year Japan provided Food Aid to Liberia in the amount of 780 million yen (approximately US$7.1). The Notes were signed by H.E. Mr. Masamichi Ishikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Liberia and H.E. Mrs. Olubanke King-Akerele, Foreign Minister of Liberia.
The Japanese food aid to Liberia decision was made in response to the direct appeal of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda for Food Aid (rice in particular) to Liberia.
The President's appeal was made at an official meeting held with Prime Minister Fukuda on May 29, 2008 in the sidelines of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV). It was the crowning of the efforts that were initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the directive of the President.
Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is implementing several projects in Liberia (some completed) including the restoration of the Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital, Rehabilitation of the Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital and Master Plan Study on Urban Facilities Restoration and Improvement.
Other projects include formulation of a short and medium - term development plan to improve road network, drainage system, water supply and environment. The agreement expected to be signed today will help improve the lives of most of Liberia's vulnerable children. Writes D. K .Sengbeh, 06 586 531' dakasen1978@yahoo.com.
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