The Japanese Government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$200,023 for

1) The Project for Construction of Two Villages Sub Rural Health Centers in Hpa-an Township, Kayin State (US$ 105,310) and
2) The Project for Construction of Ein Du Kindergarten in Hpa-an Township, Kayin State (US$ 94,713).

The handover ceremonies of the projects took place in Hpa-an Township on 7th and 8th December 2016 respectively. Mr. Hideaki HIGASHI, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Dr.Tin Win Kyaw, Social Welfare Minister of Kayin State, Committee Chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

Two Sub Rural Health Centers (SRHC) in Kawt Dan Mei and Ya Tha Wal Villages used private houses as the Center buildings. Since the Centers faced the lack of staff quarters, medical storage, delivery rooms and canters, they were not able to receive incoming patients who wished to have medical services. To address these problems, the Japanese Government provided funding for construction of two one-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C) SRHC buildings and two staff quarters with full furniture and 7 items of medical equipment for each center. The project will benefit 6,168 residents of 10 villages.

The existing kindergarten building in Ein Du Village was aged and the wooden poles, struts and rafters were decayed. The children were exposed to wind and rain since there were many holes on the Galvanized Iron (GI) sheet roofs. Moreover, there was only one lavatory and it was not sufficient for 93 children and 4 teachers. For this solution, the Japanese Government provided funding for construction of a two-storey R.C.C building with full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 93 children and 4 teachers of the kindergarten.

The Government of Japan has assisted 801 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 391 education projects, 198 healthcare projects, 138 public welfare and environment projects, 41 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.