Handover Ceremony of Medical Equipment Provided by a Japanese Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to Samawah Maternity and Children's Hospital

March 2004

1. On Sunday, March 14, 2004, the handover ceremony of medical equipment provided by the non-profit organization (NPO) Japan-Iraq Medical Association, using grant assistance for Japanese NGO projects, to the Samawah Maternity and Children's Hospital in Al-Muthanna Governorate in southern Iraq, was held at the hospital.
   
   
2. The handover ceremony was attended by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Samawah office and members of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) from the Japanese side, and by the Governor of Al-Muthanna, the Director of Health for Al-Muthanna Governorate and the head of Samawah Maternity and Children's Hospital among others from the Iraqi side.
   
   
3. The medical equipment provided comprised 36 items in eight categories, including 10 infant incubators, 6 photo therapy units for incubators and 1 electrocardiograph. After the equipment had arrived in the State of Kuwait by the Japanese government plane, it was transported by a C-130 transport plane of the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) on Wednesday, March 3, from Ali Al Salem airport in Kuwait to Talil airport in Iraq. This was the first transportation operation by the ASDF aircraft to Iraq for humanitarian and reconstruction-related goods. It was then transported by the GSDF to Samawah.
   
   
4. Under the previous regime in Iraq, the acquisition and renewal of commodities such as equipment and medical supplies was difficult, resulting in a continued situation whereby it was impossible to provide an adequate standard of health and medical care. With the implementation of this project it is expected that the medical and health situation will improve in the region, which is said to have an infant mortality rate of more than 10%.