The Embassy of Japan in Jakarta has donated a Japan-made ambulance to a community health empowerment foundation in Bali under the Japanese government’s Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security program. According to the embassy, the grant was awarded to the Desa Pakraman Nyuh Kuning Bumi Sehat Foundation, which operates the Bumi Sehat Clinic in Mas Village, Gianyar Regency.
“This project is expected to enhance the emergency medical evacuation system and contribute to improving health services,” the Japanese Embassy said in a press statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.
The embassy noted that Bumi Sehat Clinic has long provided healthcare services to residents of Mas Village and 17 surrounding villages in Ubud District, Gianyar.
However, the lack of reliable vehicles has hampered the foundation’s ability to carry out safe and timely medical evacuations. To address this challenge, the Japanese government provided a grant worth 2.6 million yen (approximately 300 million rupiah) to support the procurement of on Japanese-made ambulance for the foundation.
“The project was signed in December 2024 between the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta and the Desa Pakraman Nyuh Kuning Bumi Sehat Foundation, and has now been completed,” the embassy said.
Emergency Evacuation Unit
With the addition of the new ambulance funded by Japan, the foundation’s healthcare services previously limited to several villages in Ubud District have now expanded to reach neighboring districts and even Denpasar City.
The Japanese Embassy added that the new vehicle will primarily serve as an emergency evacuation unit for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and infants, thereby improving access to maternal and child healthcare in the region.
The handover ceremony for the ambulance took place in October at Mas Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency. Representing Japan at the event was Ohmichi Takuma, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, while Eka Yuliani, Chairperson of the Desa Pakraman Nyuh Kuning Bumi Sehat Foundation, attended on behalf of the recipient organization.
The ceremony was also attended by Robin Teresa Jehle Hemmerle, founder of the foundation; Jenni Caroline Maria, Head of HR and Project Manager; and Ayu Nusayanti Purnama Dewi, Acting Head of the Bumi Sehat Clinic.
Before this project, the Bumi Sehat Clinic had already played a key role in providing essential medical care for residents across 17 nearby villages. However, in recent years, its aging ambulance often broke down and could no longer be relied upon for urgent medical evacuations.
Extended Beyond Ubud
Through the new initiative, the foundation utilized approximately 300 million rupiah in Japanese grant funds to purchase the new vehicle. As a result, emergency and outreach health services have now extended beyond Ubud to three neighboring subdistricts and as far as Denpasar.
The new ambulance is expected to make a tangible impact, particularly for maternal and child health, enabling faster and safer medical responses during emergencies involving pregnant women and newborns.
The Japanese Embassy emphasized that Japan’s Grassroots Grant Assistance program aims to tackle fundamental human needs in various sectors, including health, education, social welfare, and environmental protection, while strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Indonesia.
“By providing one Japan-made ambulance for the Bumi Sehat Clinic in Gianyar Regency, this project is expected to improve the emergency medical evacuation system and contribute to the overall enhancement of healthcare services in the region,” the embassy stated.
The embassy reaffirmed Japan’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities in Indonesia through projects that promote human security and sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Sources : RM.id, Antaranews
Feat Image : via Embassy of Japan