The ambulances donated by the government of Japan, have been handed over to health facilities in the Maldives.

The ceremony to handover the Japan-donated ambulances under the government’s policy to strengthen the emergency services of Maldives, was held on Thursday.

A total of eight ambulances were handed over to the designated islands during the ceremony.

Takeuchi Midori, the Ambassador of Japan to Maldives handed the eight paramedic ambulances over to Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem on behalf of the Japanese government.

Minister Naseem handed the ambulances over to the managers of the designated health facilities.

Six of them were allocated to Hoarafushi Health Center in Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi island, Kelaa Health Center in Haa Alif atoll Kelaa island, Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital in Haa Dhaal atoll Kulhudhuffushi City, Gan Regional Hospital in Laamu atoll Gan island, Fuvahmulah Hospital and Addu Equatorial Hospital in southernmost Addu City.

The remaining two were allocated to the National Ambulances Service at Greater Malé Region.

The gifting of eight ambulances to outlying atolls, is expected to pave the path for quicker responses in the case emergency medical assistance is required in times of disasters, emergencies or accidents.

The eight units of ambulances gifted by the government of Japan consist of eight sets of 12 medical equipment including ALS bag, oxygen cylinder, bag valve mask and a spinal board.

The ambulances were donated under the grant assistance of the Japanese government under its Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).