OREANDA-NEWS. December 16, 2010. Japan is going to implement more projects to equip Belarusian hospitals in the Chernobyl-hit regions, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of Japan to Belarus Kiyoshi Matsuzaki told a press conference dedicated to the national holiday of Japan – the Emperor’s Birthday.

Kiyoshi Matsuzaki said that Japan began to supply hospitals located in the affected regions with medical equipment in 2004. Since then 18 projects have been carried out. Five new project documents have been signed this year.

“I believe that it is our responsibility to support Belarus which was hit the worst by the Chernobyl accident. Japanese people also experienced the atrocities of a nuclear catastrophe. They have warm feelings towards Belarusian people and provide them with all-round assistance,” Kiyoshi Matsuzaki stressed.

The Japanese diplomatic mission in Belarus implements its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. According to the document signed in November 2010 the central hospital in Lelchitsy will receive medical equipment worth USD 100,000. It will be the 23rd Japanese grant assistance project in Belarus.

Japanese authorities introduced grants for the amount of USD 1.959 million for the hospitals located in the Chernobyl-affected regions, namely in Gomel, Mogilev and Brest Oblast. In particular, they launched an USD 80,700 project in Chechersk Territorial Medical Establishment, a USD 75,600 project in Vetka district hospital and a USD 65,900 project in Kostyukovichi Central Regional Hospital. Hospitals in Slavgorod, Bykhov, Khoiniki, Korma, Narovlya, Dobrush, Buda-Koshelevo. Loyev, Yelsk, Bragin, Gomel and Kalinkovichi received equipment worth up to USD 95,000. To date Japanese authorities have launched USD 100,000 grant projects in district and oblast hospitals in Dobrush, Krichev, Loyev, Pinsk, Yelsk and Gomel.