Japanese grant helps thalassaemia charity get blood donation vehicle

The Japanese government has awarded a grant of over $25,000 to Afzaal Memorial Thalassaemia Foundation (AMTF) for the import and reconditioning of a blood donation vehicle from Tokyo, which would be used for donation drives in the city.

The contract for provision of ‘Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)’ was signed on Tuesday, at the official residence of the Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi, by Toshikazu Isomura, Consul General of Japan in Karachi, and Dr Asim Qidwai, the chief executive of AMTF.

The grant of $25,569, approximately Rs2.6 million, covers the cost of reconditioning and transportation of the blood donation vehicle. The grant is in the form of the ‘recycling grant scheme’ which utilises used but valuable vehicles by bearing the cost of reconditioning and transportation.

The blood donation vehicle, which was used in Japan, was donated by the Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy. At the signing ceremony, Japanese CG Isomura said he was hopeful that the vehicle to be provided under the grant would help improve health services in Karachi. He was also hopeful that the support from the people of Japan would further strengthen friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan.

He said that under the GGP scheme, Japan had funded more than 360 projects in Pakistan since 1989 and hoped that the government would continue supporting the people of Pakistan in the areas of health and education.

The chief executive officer of AMTF, Dr Asim Qidwai, and executive director, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, thanked that Japanese government and the people of Japan for their support and hoped that the generous donation would help improve blood collection efforts. It was said that the project would not only benefit a lot of patients but would also help generate awareness on the importance of blood donation.