The Japanese government has come up with 337,621 USD in non-refundableaid to support the third phase of a maternal and infant healthcareproject implemented in Vietnam’s northern mountainous province of DienBien.

The project’s third phase contract, signed on February 5 atthe Japanese Embassy in Hanoi, allows the fund to be used to upgradelocal clinics and improve the medical staffs’ skills in maternal andinfant healthcare in Muong Cha and Tuan Giao districts.

The workhas been carried out by the Japanese non-governmental organisation WorldVision Japan, the Ministry of Health, and the Dien Bien provincialDepartment of Health.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, theJapanese Embassy’s representative Jun Yanagi expressed his hope that theproject will generate good results in its final year and be expanded toother localities.

Cooperation between the Japanese Governmentand Dien Bien has occurred initially in Muong Cha and Tuan Giaodistricts – home to a high proportion of poor households since 2012.

World Vision Japan, an advocacy organisation dedicated toworking with children, families and communities to overcome poverty andjustice, has been involved in development assistance activities in manycountries across the world.

In Vietnam, it has engaged in many projects in education and support for the disabled.-VNA