Kenya gets Sh2.9bn health grant from Japan
Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Tatsushi Tereda (right) during a ground breaking ceremony for construction of a health centre at Mayeye in Malindi on February 25, 2016. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Japan has given Kenya a Sh2.9 billion grant to help improve the health sector.
The grant will be used to improve primary health care facilities, subsidise health insurance and provision of free maternity services.
According to the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Mr Tatsushi Terada, the funding is part of an agreement signed by the two countries in March last year.
The agreement was signed during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Japan last year.
“The purpose of the grant is to ensure that all people access health services they need without suffering financial hardships," said Mr Terada.
He added that funding the health sector is part of Japan's official development assistance to Kenya focusing on five sectors of health and medical care, human resources development, development of economic infrastructure and environmental conservation.
The Ambassador spoke Thursday after laying a foundation stone for the construction of a Sh8.8 million health centre in Muyeye village in Malindi. The project is funded by the Japanese government.
