Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid for the Republic of Congo (The Project for Infectious Diseases Prevention for Children in the Republic of Congo) through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

January 27, 2010
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend general project grant aid in order to contribute to the Project for Infectious Diseases Prevention for Children in the Republic of Congo totaling 159 million JPY to the Republic of Congo. Notes to this effect were exchanged on January 27 (Wed) (local time: same day) in Brazzaville, the capital city of Congo, between Mr. Motoi Kato, Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, and Ms. Marianne Flach, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Congo.
The state of health care in the Republic of Congo is poor due to conditions including the prolonged civil wars and a battered economy, even when compared with that of other developing countries. The Government of the Republic of Congo is working towards the formulation and provision of a health care system.
In the Republic of Congo, malaria is the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age, infants, and expectant and nursing mothers. This grant aid will provide through UNICEF the funds required for the distribution of medications including antimalarial medicines, medications for the correction of anemia, in order to combat malaria, and medicine to counteract diarrhea to regional health facilities across the country.
As a result of this grant aid, by the year 2011:
1) a system will be established in which 25% of all young children (185,000 children) will receive treatment for malaria within 24 hours of contraction of the disease, and the mortality rate from malaria will be reduced by approximately 30% (7,000 to 8,000 lives is expected to be saved); and
2) a system will be established in which 60% of all young children (444,000 children under the age of five years) will be administered lifesaving medication upon the contraction of diarrhea, and the mortality rate from diarrhea is expected to be reduced by approximately 30%.
This grant aid is a part of Japan's commitment to Africa announced at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May 2008 to strengthen cooperation towards efforts in the field of health care within African countries.

(Reference)
The Republic of Congo covers a land area of approximately 342,000 square kilometers, has a population of approximately 3.7 million people (2007), and a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of approximately 1,540 USD (2007).

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