1. On Tuesday 21 October, H.E. Mr. Tateshi Higuchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and H.E.Daw Lei Lei Thein, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, exchanged notes concerning grant aid for the Project for Improvement of Malaria Control Equipment, worth 146 million Japanese Yen or approximately 1.37 million USD in Nay Pyi Taw.

2. Malaria is a major infectious disease with a high prevalence and mortality rate in Myanmar. In addition, in recent years, incidences of malaria with resistance to major malaria medication have been confirmed in Myanmar, the containment of which is now a global issue. Japan has assisted malaria control policy in Myanmar, and have succeeded in reducing the mortality rate from malaria by half in assistance target areas.

3. This Project will assist the procurement of equipment for malaria prevention, testing and diagnostics in the five regions and state of Bago, Yangon, Mandalay, Magway, Karen, as well as in the Nay Pyi Taw capital region. This assistance will lead to the establishment of a model to reach “malaria elimination (a situation where there is no proliferation of malaria in a certain region).”