Herald Reporter

Government has received a US$13,3 million grant for education and health from Japan that will be disbursed through five United Nations agencies.

This follows another US$1,4 million humanitarian grant given to Unicef in January this year.

Japan’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Koichi Morita said the grant would go a long way in improving the standards of living for vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe.

"The grant has two components; one for basic education and the other for health.

"The education component focuses on several elements to improve the learning environment in primary schools, while the health component concentrates on maternal health and infant mortality," he said.

Ambassador Morita said the health component would concentrate on maternal health and infant mortality.

"Midwifery, obstetric and neo-natal resuscitation kits for basic and essential care to be procured and distributed to 62 district hospitals including two delivery beds per hospital," he said.

Ambassador Morita said the project would also rehabilitate "Mothers’ Waiting Shelters" at hospitals.

He said Japan had already funded refurbishment of 10 such wards that were almost complete.

Japan also signed grant agreements with the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society worth US$97 000 for the Midlands Youth Training Centre in Gweru.

The centre specifically targets vulnerable youth, especially child-headed families and children infected with HIV and Aids.

About 120 youths per year will be trained in carpentry and sewing.