The Government of Japan today extended a grant of$205,035, which is approximately BDT 16.19 million to three Bangladeshi NGOs. Ambassador Hiroyasu Izumi signed ‘Grant Contracts’ for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) at the Embassy of Japan with the representatives of these NGOs: Mr. Md. Golam Mostofa, Executive Director of Community Initiative Society (CIS); Mr. Md. Feroz Salah Uddin, Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS); and Mr. KhondkarAnisur Rahman, Executive Officer of Prism Bangladesh Foundation.
CIS was awarded the grant for“The Project for Procurement of medical equipment to support displaced people from Myanmar and host community in Cox’s Bazar”. CIS, in collaboration with Dhaka Community Hospital Trust (DCHT), have constructed a healthcare center at Camp-15, Jamtoli of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar with the aim of providing the refugee community with medical services. Due to lack of medical equipment, CIS is unable to provide advanced treatments to the patients, especially women and children of the camp area. Upon receiving the equipment from GGHSP, CIS will be the first of its kind to provide ultra-sonogram, pathology tests and monitor cardiac conditions based inside the camp. Through this project, about 252,000 people from Camp-15 will be benefitted annually from CIS’s healthcare center for 24/7, free of cost.
BDRCSwas awarded the grant for “The Project for Construction of the Primary Health Care Clinic in the Camp of Displaced People from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar” to construct one healthcare center in Camp 12 at Ukhiya. BDRCS, in association with Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), started providing medical services to the people from Camp 12, but due to infrastructure and hill slope weakness, the center is planned to be reconstructed with GGHSP grant while hill slopes will be reinforced supported by JRCS. After completion of the construction, BDRCS will be able to serve at least 32,200 patients annually.
PRISMwas awarded the grant for its“The Project for Medical Waste Management in Rangpur District” in theRangpur City Corporation area of Rangpur District.Even though medical waste management in Bangladesh is a growing concern, no separate focus has been given to address the problem nationally. PRISM has been working on medical waste management in Bangladesh since 2004, successfully operating 5 plants including Dhaka South City Corporation. With the support from Japanese grant, PRISM will install equipment in their 6th medical waste management plant based in Rangpur City Corporation. Through this project, PRISM can collect 8.62 metric tons medical waste, and sterilize them per day, ensuring safety of all citizens of Rangpur City Corporation area (796,556 people).
Japan has supported193 NGOprojects through its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) since 1989 with the view to enhanceeconomic and social human security in the grass-roots levels.The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amountsapproximately to$ 14.95million.