The Japanese Government will provide $455,612 in non-refundable aid to the second phase of a maternal and infant healthcare project in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien. Under a contract signed in Hanoi on February 10, funding will be channeled through the Japanese non-governmental organization World Vision Japan. It will help upgrade infrastructure to healthcare centers in the locality, enhancing locals’ access to free healthcare services and decreasing the fatality rates of mothers and infants. Cooperation between the Japanese Government and Dien Bien has occurred since 2012, initially in Muong Cha and Tuan Giao districts – home to a high proportion of poor households. Currently residents in many localities in Dien Bien, mostly from ethnic minority groups, have faced difficulties in accessing healthcare services due to unqualified medical stations. World Vision Japan has been involved in development assistance activities in many countries across the world. In Vietnam, it has engaged in many projects in education and support for the disabled. (Vietnam News Feb 11)
