Japan Supports Three Grass-roots Human Security Projects
DHAKA, March 29 (NsNewsWire) — The Government of Japan has extended grants to three Bangladeshi NGOs.
Ambassador Shiro Sadoshima Sunday signed ‘Grant Contracts’ for Grass-roots Human Security Projects atEmbassy of Japan with the representatives of these NGOs: Dr. Sk. Akhtar Ahmad, President of AsiaArsenic Network (AAN), Mr. Rasel Ahmed Liton, Chief Executive of SKS Foundation, and Prof.Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum, Executive Director of Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS).
According to statement of the Japanese embassy in Dhaka, AAN was awarded the grant for its project to strengthen arsenic mitigation capacity. InJessore, most people depend on ground water for domestic purposes. But many water-wells arecontaminated by arsenic. Arsenic causes harmful diseases such as cancer and many suffer fromarsenic poisoning and diseases. With the Japanese assistance, AAN will upgrade analytical capacityto carry out water quality test aiming for effective arsenic mitigation. AAN will assess the safety of
water sources from arsenic contamination and help to install the alternative water sources in someUpazilas of Jessore district in order to decrease the number of arsenicosis patients. SKS Foundation’s grant-awarded project aims at establishing community radio station. InGaibandha, there are many perennial islands, called ‘Char’, in the Jamuna River. People in Charareas suffer from perennial natural disasters being deprived of basic human needs such as health,education, communication and information services. With the community radio station to beestablished through the Japanese assistance, SKS foundation will broadcast disaster information andcultural programs with a view to decreasing the natural disaster damage and ensuring sustainablecommunity development. TMSS will use the grant to improve coronary care services. The number of coronarypatients has been increasing and such diseases may cause death unless prompt and appropriatetreatments are provided. In Bogra district, there are not enough number of hospitals which canprovide advanced treatments for coronary patients. Some patients are transferred to Dhaka, whichtakes more than 4 hours. With the Japanese assistance, TMSS will install the extended medicaltreatment facilities to patients suffering from coronary disease in order to provide prompt andappropriate treatments and save their lives. These facilities are expected to provide medical care forroad traffic casualties, too.In total, these grants amount to US$ 221,101. Japan has supported 186 NGO projectsthrough the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) since 1989 with aview to enhancing economic and social human security at the grass-roots level. The total sum ofthese GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amount approximately to US$ 14million.