On 7 February, 2022, a medical support team consisting of two Japanese doctors and one nurse from “Peace Winds Japan (PWJ)”, a Japanese NGO, and medical supplies arrived in Palau.
The rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Palau since the end of 2021 records 1,439 active cases as of 6 February. This surge in active cases has led to a shortage of medical workers and supplies that are essential to handle the situation.
PWJ dispatched a hospital ship in 2021 and started kensing or health screening to prevent Non Communicable Diseases mainly for the people living in outer island states, funded by the Government of Japan. The Ministry of Health and Human Services and Belau National Hospital, which are partners of the kensing project, requested PWJ to assist them to contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection. In response to the request, PWJ has decided to dispatch a medical support team and provide essential materials including 3,800 rapid antigen test kits, 20,860 masks and 1,650 face shields, which arrived in Palau on 7 February, 2022 to help their partners.
The Japanese doctors and nurse from PWJ will be working in Palau for next two weeks, mainly to assist medical workers in Belau National Hospital. The delivered medical items will be also used mainly for tests in the COVID Testing Center.
The Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau appreciates PWJ’s timely and effective assistance to Palau and expects this support will foster the friendship between Japan and Palau furthermore.
