The Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Bangsamoro region gets a boost with the donation of sea ambulances and key medical equipment from Japan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The UN Migration Agency on Friday said the assistance would help strengthen the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)’s Covid-19 prevention and response.

The donation includes six polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing machines as well as 20 vaccine carriers, which the IOM said would contribute to detecting and preventing not only Covid-19 but also other infectious diseases like tuberculosis.

Over years of underdevelopment and conflict, the UN agency said BARMM was left less prepared for health emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic.

“The assistance comes at a very opportune time as the government boosts its efforts to recover from the pandemic and strengthen its Covid-19 vaccination program across the country,” IOM Philippines Officer-in-Charge Troy Dooley said. “We believe that the provided equipment will contribute to ensuring that no one, including the vulnerable populations such as migrants, returnees, and the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are not left behind in these critical services.”

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, meanwhile, thanked the IOM and the Japanese government for the timely assistance.

“The global pandemic came at one of our most important political phases – the transition period. I hope that the key medical equipment will be of use to dear brothers and sisters in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi,” he said.

The IOM recognized that the financial and organizational demands of responding to the pandemic have stretched regional capacity, causing delay in the Bangsamoro transition and normalization process.

“As the Bangsamoro government aspires to fulfill its mandate by 2025 regional election, IOM and the Government of Japan strongly hope that the assistance will help reduce the Covid-19 induced constraints and challenges in achieving lasting peace and development,” it said.

Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said Tokyo would also continue supporting the peace process in the region.

“Japan firmly believes that peace is the foundation for happiness. It is the hope of the Government of Japan and the Japanese people that the people living in Mindanao will be able to enjoy peaceful and fulfilled lives. To achieve this goal, Japan commits to continue supporting the Mindanao Peace Process the implementation of various development projects,” he said.

With funding of more than USD2.7 million (approximately PHP139 million) from Japan, the UN Migration Agency in the Philippines has been conducting a series of health and emergency preparedness interventions to support the BARMM’s Covid-19 prevention and response. Recently, it provided three cold chain vehicles and antigen testing kits.

The agency is likewise planning to provide 18 units of solar direct-drive vaccine refrigerators in the coming months. (PNA)