Skopje, 28 September 2022 (MIA) – The Public Health Institution Healthcare Center Skopje received new equipment worth EUR 40,420, donated by Japan, as part of Japan’s GGP initiative. The equipment consists of three defibrillators, four aspirators, two syringe pumps, two infusion pumps, ten spinal boards, two evacuation chairs and 20 electrocardiographs. On that occasion, the Japanese Ambassador to North Macedonia, Sawada Hironori, had a meeting Wednesday with the director of PHI Healthcare Center – Skopje, Viktor Isjanovski, as well as the organizational director, Besim Koka, and the manager of the institution, Milica Bubalo, during which they discussed the possibilities of future cooperation. After the meeting, Isjanovski said that this donation directly contributes to the improvement of the health services offered to the citizens of Skopje and the surrounding areas. “The Healthcare Center, with the aid of the Japanese Embassy’s grant project, will improve the medical equipment in primary health protection and emergency care. I would like to express my gratitude for the donation, with which we will ensure a higher level of healthcare provision and greater safety for all patients,” said Isjanovski. On behalf of the Healthcare Center and the employees of the institution, Isjanovski presented the Japanese ambassador with a certificate of gratitude. Japanese Ambassador Sawada stated that in 2021, with the donated equipment, 6.485 examinations of patients with chest pain were performed, while the new spinal boards were used in 3.362 interventions during traffic incidents and traumatic injuries. With this donation, he said, Japan helped provide emergency medical assistance to 8.962 patients with Covid-19. The Ambassador further said that through GGP, Japan has financed over 60 projects in the health sector with a total value of over 3 million euro, specifically in medical equipment, renovation of clinics and emergency aid. Additionally, in the last two years Japan has been equipping public health facilities with medical equipment worth 813.000 euro as emergency Covid-19 aid, a part of the Economic and Social Development Programme, as well as additional, non-financial assistance in the form of medicine for one hundred patients with Covid-19. Through the Grants Assistance for Grassroots Projects, Japan has financed the renovation and procurement of equipment for more than 72 schools and kindergartens, 64 health facilities and it has also provided 34 specialized vehicles for waste management and utility services to 51 municipalities. ad/ba/