The Japanese government has handed over three ambulance trucks valued at N$9 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
According to health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya, the handover, which was held on Thursday morning, aims to strengthen emergency response services in Namibia.
Kamaya said the ambulances, funded under Japan’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programmes, will be allocated to Opuwo District Hospital in the Kunene region, Katima Mulilo District Hospital in the Zambezi region, and Keetmanshoop District Hospital in the ||Kharas region.
Speaking at the official handover in Windhoek, Japan’s chargé d’affaires, Noriaki Sadamoto, said the donation reflects the strong and enduring partnership between Japan and Namibia.
“Japan has long been committed to addressing the health needs of vulnerable and marginalised communities.
“Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, and we are dedicated to working with Namibia to ensure every Namibian can live a healthy and productive life,” he said.
Sadamoto added that the funding for the ambulances forms part of a broader Japanese assistance package to Namibia worth about N$50 million, which has already seen medical equipment distributed to 17 hospitals across the country since 2022.
He added that Japan continues to channel support to Namibia through partnerships with United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organisation, Unicef and the UN Population Fund, focusing on universal health coverage, vaccine access and essential medical equipment.
According to a combined statement by the health ministry and the Japan embassy, earlier this year, Japan provided N$8,6 million through Unicef Namibia to strengthen paediatric wards, supply lifesaving equipment and improve water and sanitation services in the Kunene, Omaheke, Omusati and Zambezi regions, benefiting an estimated 48 000 people.
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