“Peace Winds Japan”, a Japanese NGO provides PCR test equipment as the second assistance for Palau to address the COVID-19 surge

On 9 February, 2022, PCR test equipment including a PCR test machine, a mobile refrigerator and lab packages arrived in Palau as the second assistance by “Peace Winds Japan (PWJ)”, a Japanese NGO. A handover ceremony was held at the entrance of Belau National Hospital with attendance of Minister of Health and Human Services Uherbelau, Minister of State Aitaro, Ambassador Karasawa and the medical support team of PWJ. The PCR equipment was delivered to Palau by PWJ’s chartered flight and will be used for PCR testing in Belau National Hospital, which is expected to accelerate the speed of PCR tests significantly.

The rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Palau since the beginning of 2022 records 1,439 active cases as of 9 February. In response to the request by the Ministry of Health and Human Services, which is a partner of the PWJ’s hospital ship project started in 2021, PWJ dispatched a medical support team including 2 Japanese doctors and 1 nurse and provided medical supplies including 3,800 rapid antigen test kits as the first assistance, which arrived in Palau on 7 February, 2022.

The Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau reiterates its gratitude to PWJ for its timely assistance to Palau and expects this support will contribute to containing the spread of the COVID-19 infection in Palau, as well as to fostering the friendship between Japan and Palau furthermore.