YANGON, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese government, under its
Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, will provide a
grant aid for the project of improvement of medical equipment for
hospitals in the capital Yangon  according to a press release of
the Japanese Embassy here Monday.
   The notes for providing an amount of 792 million yens (about 6.
43 million U.S. dollars) for the project were signed and exchanged
on Monday between Japanese Ambassador Shigeru Tsumori and Myanmar
Minister of Health Major-General Ket Sein.
   This was Japanese government's second ODA extended to Myanmar
during this year, while the first one, worth 203 million yens (
about 1.65 million dollars), which was for the project of human
resources development scholarship, was provided earlier in January.
   The present project aims at qualitative enhancement of the
medical services at New Yangon General Hospital, Central Women
Hospital and Yangon Children Hospital, the release said, adding
that essential modern medical equipment such as scanners,
electrocardiographs and others will be supplied to the hospitals.
   Last year, Japan provided ODA of 1.689 billion yens (about 13.
73 million dollars) to Myanmar.
   Meanwhile, up to 2001, Japan provided aid for debt relief to
Myanmar for 20 times including that of 3.594 billion yens (about
29.22 million dollars) during 2001.  Enditem