TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese government has granted JP¥ 8,115,876 (Rp841 million) to the Bunda Pembantu Abadi Hospital for Leprosy and General Disability in North Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The donation, a Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security project to provide medical equipment and ambulances, was handed over in a ceremony on June 12.

This project provides emergency vehicles and medical equipment to the hospital, which has been unable to provide adequate services to leprosy patients in the area due to a lack of emergency vehicles and medical equipment.

The project was completed after Tokyo signed an agreement with the Bunda Pembantu Abadi Hospital in March 2022.

In a written statement received by Tempo on June 18, the Japanese embassy in Jakarta said the ceremony was attended by the embassy's first secretary, Nomoto Takuya. Indonesia was represented by Nining Darmawidjaja, director of the Bunda Pembantu Abadi Hospital for Leprosy and General Disability.

As the only specialty hospital for leprosy patients in East Nusa Tenggara, Bunda Pembantu Abadi treats approximately one thousand leprosy patients each year, many of whom are identified by the hospital's ambulance service during the 150 treatments it provides each year. However, the hospital only has one ambulance, making it impossible to increase the number of ambulances and patient transport.

In addition, the lack of laboratory equipment made it impossible to provide the clinical examinations and treatments needed by some 520 patients, such as heat therapy for pain relief.

The aid provided by the Japanese government will support the building of ambulances and medical equipment for clinical examinations in hospitals through this project. The new ambulance, equipped with supportive medical equipment, has transported more than 200 patients. The new laboratory equipment has also facilitated the testing of patients before they take leprosy medication, and some 518 leprosy patients have been treated with the new heat therapy equipment.

TEMPO.CO

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