The Japanese Embassy in Manila has inked a PHP6.1-million grant aimed at assisting a Filipino foundation in acquiring eye surgery equipment to aid impoverished cataract patients in Metro Manila.
This financial assistance, granted to the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission, Inc. (FOLPMI), falls under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
During the grant awarding ceremony held on Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa emphasized Tokyo’s dedication to supporting the nation in achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
“Despite its modest scale, GGP is tailored to address the specific and evolving needs of local communities, delivering immediate impacts. The Japanese people aspire to empower communities through this humanitarian initiative,” stated Koshikawa.
The initiative was proposed by Dr. Tadashi Hattori, a distinguished ophthalmologist renowned for his decades-long provision of free treatments to individuals in Vietnam. He advocated for the adoption of a similar project in the Philippines, which will be spearheaded by FOLPMI founder Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, MD.
With the assistance provided, FOLPMI will procure a state-of-the-art phacoemulsification device and microscope, empowering their medical team to deliver affordable and top-tier cataract surgeries to marginalized sectors and communities.
According to the Japanese Embassy, recent statistics indicate that approximately 146,000 individuals in Metro Manila are afflicted with cataracts, with over 30 percent encountering difficulties in accessing timely surgical interventions due to various factors such as financial constraints and prolonged wait times at public healthcare facilities.
