KATHMANDU, July 5: Japan has provided eight ambulances to Nepal Red Cross Society (NRSC) under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GAGHSP) of the Japanese government. 

According to a press statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa handed over the keys of the ambulances to  NRCS Chairperson Sanjeev Kumar Thapa amidst a function held at NRCS office on Wednesday. 

The total amount needed to procure the ambulances is Rs 9.8 million (US$ 90,440).

The ambulances provided through the project are four-wheel-drives, providing safe and reliable service even under the challenging road conditions in Nepal, says the press statement.

Out of the eight ambulances, four have already been sent to Pyuthan, Gulmi, Udayapur and Morang districts last November. According to the statement, the NRSC plans to send three new ambulances to Jajarkot, Rautahat and Dhankuta later this month. The remaining ambulance will be sent to Khotang district after the monsoon.

The branches of the NRSC in those districts used to have only one ambulance, with some areas having no ambulance at all before these ambulances were sent. “It was difficult to respond to local calls for service, even in case of accidents or to transport urgently-needed blood,” said the statement.

 
• japan
 
• nepal red cross society
 
• grant assistance
 
• grassroots human security project