JICA To Conduct Study To Improve Emergency Medical Service Delivery In Asean Countries

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will conduct a study to find the best way to strengthen the emergency medical service delivery of Asean member countries during natural disasters. Acting chief representative of the JICA Malaysia Office, Kyoko Okubo said the study was important to assist Asean member countries to cope with any form of natural disaster following the Indian ocean tsunami which occurred 10 years ago. "Through this study, JICA will propose a better coordinating system for Asean member countries to improve their emergency medical system during natural disasters." She told this to reporters at the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot, here, Sunday after attending the handing-over of relief items from the Japanese government for Malaysian flood victims. Okubo said JICA had also implemented a joint research project with the cooperation of Malaysia's National Security Council and other relevant government agencies aimed at improving the early warning system for floods and landslides in the northern states of the peninsula. She said the research project undertaken with Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Multimedia University would identify areas with high risk of experiencing landslides and floods in the northern states, besides reviewing the early warning system by the Malayian government. "We hope these initiatives will contribute to strengthening the social and institutional capacity to prepare for future natural disasters," she added. Earlier at the ceremony, Japanese ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Makio Miyagawa handed over Japan's emergency relief items worth almost US$141,623 (RM500,000) for the flood victims to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Shahidan Kassim. The relief items delivered through JICA include 30 sets of water purifier, 50 sets of water storage tank and 40 sets of generator and code reel. Shahidan said the contribution, a symbolic gesture of the close diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Japan since 1957, was essential to restore the lives of thousands of flood victims in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak. He also said that the government would look into the possibility of appointing military personnel and social activists who assisted the flood victims as volunteers under National Security Council. -- BERNAMA