Afghanistan receives Japan aid for improving mother, child health

KABUL – The Japan has offered 8.1 million U.S. dollars to Afghanistan for helping improve basic health services for Afghan mothers and their children, a statement said Monday. 

"The Government of Japan has responded to the urgent call to scale up maternal and child health action in Afghanistan with new assistance to UNICEF of USD 8.1 million," said the statement issued by UNICEF, or the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund here. 

The grant was a part of the overall supports to address the wellbeing of Afghan mothers and children, the statement said, adding that "with a focus on health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, through the scale-up of the system to the nationwide to utilize a comprehensive handbook for service receivers and providers within the Basic Primary Health Service (BPHS) system across all 34 provinces of the country." 

The latest contribution through the health project will target 5.2 million beneficiaries, 2.1 million pregnant women and 3.1 million children under the age of two and their respective families, according to the statement. 
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