The United Nations Office for Project Services and the Government of Japan delivered, today, Wednesday, the necessary and basic medical supplies and equipment needed by Al-Maqasid Hospital in East Jerusalem, in a tangible amount of $ 909,090 within the framework of the Japanese grant package for the Palestinian people for the year 2020.
The ceremony was attended by the Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs, Japan’s Representative to Palestine Magoshi Masayuki, Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services in Jerusalem Tukumitsu Kobayashi, and Director General of Al-Maqasid Hospital, Dr. Adnan Farhood.
Throughout the project, the United Nations Office for Project Services worked on purchasing and delivering 35 different types of essential medicines and 68 consumer medical devices, on behalf of the Government of Japan, for the Makassed Hospital, which is the main provider of health care in East Jerusalem, where it receives patients from all over Jerusalem and the West Bank, in addition to To the Gaza Strip.
Ambassador Masayuki thanked the United Nations Office for Project Services for their efforts in completing this vital project. He said: "According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of the family, and I believe that this will not be possible without reliable access to urgently needed medical supplies, and despite the difficult situation that the whole world is facing due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, it is The important thing is not to lose hope and work together to overcome the current economic, social and health challenges. Therefore, the Government of Japan remains committed to supporting the health care system to ensure the dignity of the Palestinian people. "
The medical equipment was delivered at a critical time when Al-Maqasid Hospital faced a financial crisis that made it unable to cover operational costs and meet the urgent needs of patients. This project will contribute to improving the hospital’s ability to provide health care services to about 1,350 patients (of whom at least 50% are females). They seek treatment at Makassed Hospital, by providing the necessary medicines and medical supplies needed to save patients´ lives.
In turn, Kobayashi said: "We are pleased that the United Nations Office for Project Services was able, through the Japanese grant, to provide all necessary medicines and medical supplies to enable Al-Maqasid Hospital and health workers to prepare and feel a kind of safety to receive patients."
He added: “We are also confident that this assistance will support the urgent needs of the hospital’s management, which will effectively reflect on the needs of patients in light of the difficult circumstances, especially the Corona pandemic, and the United Nations Office for Project Services remains fully prepared to provide more support to Japan in Palestine to support Fruitful efforts exerted in responding to urgent needs in the Palestinian healthcare system.
