H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from Bago, Magway and Ayeyarwaddy Regions signed the grant contracts for four projects today. Under these contracts, Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme will provide a total of US$ 674,107 as follows:
1. The Project for Construction of Ohn Pin Village Tract Sub Rural Health Center in Thantapin Township, Bago Region (USD 68,542);
2. The Project for Upgrading of Nat Mauk Village Access Road in Aunglan Township, Magway Region (USD 136,475);
3. The Project for Upgrading of Road between Yae Lay Ka Lay Village and Ma Laung Village in Maubin Township, Ayeyarwady Region (USD 301,041); and
4. The Project for Construction of Nga Pyaw Taw Village Bridge in Kawa Township, Bago Region (USD 168,049).

Ohn Pin Village Tract Sub Rural Health Center (SRHC) has been using a public facility as a temporary health center without proper medical equipment. However, the temporary center has been detriorated and cannot accommodate a large number of patients as well. Therefore, staff have to make a home visit to examine patients in the village tract and SRHC becomes dysfunctional. To secure a proper health care environment, the Government of Japan will support construction of a one-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) SRHC building with full furniture, staff quarter and fence as well as 3 types of medical equipment. The project will benefit 3,114 local residents of this village tract.

By using an earthen road in Nat Mauk Village, the villagers in surrounding 16 villages have been transporting their agricultural products, transferring patients to hospital and sending students to high schools in the village along the highway. However, 80% of the middle school students have to give up attending the high school since the road becomes muddy and impassable during the rainy season. In order to tackle this issue, the Government of Japan will support upgrading of the 2.5-kilometer-long road and one concrete culvert. The project will benefit 964 local residents of 16 villages.

An earthen road between Yae Lay Ka Lay Village and Ma Laung Village connects to the highway to Maubin Town. A Rural Health Center is located in Yae Lay Ka Lay Village along the highway and accepts patients and pregnant women from surrounding 11 villages. However, during the rainy season, it’s difficult for elderies and pregnant women in the furthest village to walk 3 hours to RHC as the road becomes muddy. In order to solve this issue, the Government of Japan will support upgrading of the 6.2-km-long road, one R.C.C. bridge and 4 culverts. The project will benefit 5,663 local residents of 12 villages.

Nga Pyaw Taw Village located near the bank of La Gyin Pyin River is the gateway village for neighbouring 10 villages in Kawa Township. The villagers have been transporting their agricultural products, transferring patients to hospital and sending students to middle schools in the village on the opposite river bank. As the villagers need to pay 400 kyats for a round-trip boat daily, it becomes a serious financial burden. In order to address this challenge, the Government of Japan will support the construction of a 50-meter-long, 6-meter-wide R.C.C. bridge. The project will benefit 113,958 residents of 11 villages.

The Government of Japan has assisted 818 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consists of 400 education projects, 198 healthcare projects, 138 public welfare and environment projects, 47 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.