Japan disburses K1.1bn for PPEs projects
The Japanese Government has through United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) disbursed $1.3 million (about K1.1 billion) for production of Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPEs).
The funds under The Implementation of Increasing Covid-19 PPE Access in Malawi Project have been distributed to five universities in the country that have innovation projects for the production of the PPEs.
Speaking on Thursday in Lilongwe when announcing the disbursement of the funds, Japanese Ambassador Satoshi Iwakiri said the grants are being provided under the Japanese supplementary budget and have been given to Malawi in the context that fighting Covid-19 is a responsibility of everyone.
He said: “It is in view of this that the project will boost domestic manufacturing of PPEs and other Covid-19 supplies. Furthermore the project will strengthen Malawi’s capacity to become a regional supplier of anti-Covid-19 supplies in the near future.”
On his part, UNDP country representative Shigeki Komatsubara said the participating institutions are expected to meet high production standards.
He said: “We expect world class quality and strict adherence to production regulations. This expectation is not just for UNDP or the Government of Japan, but for every Malawian that will wear these facemasks, sanitise their hands, clean surfaces, or use any of the products you manufacture.”
Komatsubara said that although the grant award is to universities, private sector participants have not been left out because UNDP has floated a request for quotation to call for bids from the private sector to supply Covid-19 products as well.
The University of Malawi has received K239 million, Mzuzu University got K4.2 million, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences received K6.1 million, Malawi University of Science and Technology was granted K13.6 million while Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences received K30.3 million.
