The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$ 304,893 for

1) The Project for Construction of Ohn Taw Chaung Village Monastic Primary School in Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State (US$ 137,653); and
2) The Project for Extension of Township Hospital and Upgrading of Medical Facilities in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State (US$ 167,240).

The handover ceremonies of one school and one hospital for the above 2 projects took place in Pauktaw and Kyawktaw Townships on 13 and 14 December 2018. Ms. Suzumi SEKINE,　Third Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, committee chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

Ohn Taw Chaung Village Monastic Primary School is located in Pauktaw Township. Although there were two school buildings including a religious building, these buildings could not accommodate all the students. Therefore, over 130 students had to study at space under the religious building. In addition, Building No.1 was damaged by the cyclone in 2015 and seriously decaying. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan under its GGP scheme has provided funding for construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building with 8 classrooms, full furniture, lavatories and water supply. The project benefits 276 students attending the school.

Kyauktaw Township Hospital is a general hospital serving a population of 222,000 in this area. However, the hospital faced the lack of medical equipment, consultation room and bedroom. Therefore, the waiting room was always full of people and patients’ beds were placed in the corridor. In order to provide an appropriate health care environment, the Government of Japan, under its GGP scheme, provided funding for construction of a one-storey reinforced concrete hospital ward with full furniture and 6 items of medical equipment. The project will benefit 222,000 residents of Kyauktaw Township.

The Government of Japan has assisted 880 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 450 education projects, 200 healthcare projects, 140 public welfare and environment projects, 55 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is expected that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.