KATHMANDU: Japan is providing 25 Portable Ultrasound Image Diagnostic Systems to 25 hospitals in Nepal, 23 of which were already handed over on 16th May.

The remaining two will be installed on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan said.

Japan has provided the equipment at a time when the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Nepal at an unprecedented pace.

Upon handing over the medical equipment to the hospitals, Ambassador Kikuta Yutaka stated: “The Ultrasound Image Diagnostic Systems Japan provides this time are easy to use because they are portable, and will significantly contribute to the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients.”

He added, “While Japan herself keeps fighting the pandemic domestically, Japan always stands behind Nepal. We will tackle the COVID-19 pandemic together at this critical time. I sincerely hope that the medical equipment from the Government of Japan will help Nepali people in this difficult situation.”

The Government of Japan supports Nepal to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by providing medical equipment under the Japanese Grant Aid.

Twenty five Blood Gas Analyzers have already been provided on 27th January to 25 hospitals in the country, according to the statement.

Japan will soon provide 160 Oxygen Concentrators and 6 Ambulances. These Oxygen Concentrators will arrive in Nepal next month and they are significantly useful especially for the urgent treatment of COVID-19 patients since these high-tech equipment can “generate” highly concentrated oxygen without the need of oxygen cylinders.

They will be distributed to 58 hospitals across the nation.