The government of Japan has extended a grant of $306,692, approximately Tk 33.5million, to two Bangladeshi NGOs — Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute and JAAGO Foundation Trust.

Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori signed the ‘grant contracts’ for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects at the embassy of Japan with the respective organisations on Sunday.

Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute has been awarded $83,424 as a grant for the project — Strengthening Medical System of Haematological Diseases for Children in Dhaka district.

Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, a government-funded hospital, provides medical, surgical treatment, and diagnostic services.

With the assistance of the GGHSP funding, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute will procure and install three medical equipment — a refrigerated centrifuge machine, a plasma storage freezer, and an automated aphaeresis machine — to provide the treatment of haematological diseases including blood cancer and thalassemia for children.

JAAGO Foundation Trust has been awarded $223,268 as a grant for construction of a school building for a digital school in Bandarban district.

JAAGO Foundation Trust is working to provide free quality education to underprivileged children, and empowering youth leaders.

With the assistance of the GGHSP funding, JAAGO Foundation Trust will construct a 2-storeyed reinforced concrete building of primary and secondary school instead of the current temporary wooden school in Bandarban district to improve access to quality education for the grass-roots community, where the students will be able to complete up to secondary school certificate exam — equivalent to 12 years of education.

Japan has supported 217 NGO projects through its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects since 1989 with the view to enhancing economic and social human security in the grass-roots levels.

The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amounts approximately to $17.2 million, said the embassy.