Posted: 13/04/2009
Asha is fortunate to have the support of a number of Embassies in Delhi, one of which is the Embassy of Japan.
Today, 13th April, Asha was able to show a number of visitors from Japan's cabinet and also the Embassy just how much Asha is able to achieve with their country's support. Mr Yuji Himuro and Mr Shinji Kimachi from the Ministry of Finance, Mr Nagashi Machii from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Yukihiro Fukuda, Mr Noritaka Ikeda and Mr Preetam from the Embassy of Japan started their visit at Asha's headquarters.
Nearly two years ago, the Japanese Embassy had donated a number of pieces of equipment to enhance the capabilities of Asha's Polyclinic under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects scheme. Taking a tour of the clinic while it was brimming with patients, a very common site on a Monday morning, Asha's guests were pleased to see the equipment they donated in use. The generator, refrigerators, and other apparatus make a big difference to the efficiency of the clinic, and mean that fewer patients need to be referred to local hospitals. Dr Kiran Martin explained the drastic differences that things such as an uninterrupted power supply and the capability to test blood samples in-house made to the quality of healthcare that the clinic can provide.
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The group continued to Ekta Vihar where the delegates met the women of the Mahila Mandal and the children of the Bal Mandal. The visitors were impressed to see that the children had access to computers, and were shown how people such as Radheyshyam, Asha's regular painter and decorator, had been able to improve their houses after recently being granted loans.
The delegates expressed their delight at seeing the way their grants have had such an impact on the lives of Delhi's poor. We were glad to have the opportunity to show Mr Himuro, Mr Kimachi, Machii and their Delhi-based colleagues how much can be achieved with grants from the Embassy of Japan, and hope that they continue to see the benefit in supporting projects such as Asha's.
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Originally I was wary of Asha and not keen to get involved, but then I joined a women's group and went on to train as a Community Health Volunteer. I am able to lead others because I set an example and show how people can gain so much by being part of our work.
Shakuntala, women's group president, Mayapuri
