A major upgrade to four points of entry into the Marshall Islands has been accomplished, strengthening preparedness against infectious diseases.
The initiative supported by the government of Japan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) partnered with multiple RMI agencies to provide substantial improvements at four main entry points: Amata Kabua International Airport, Ebeye Seaport, Uliga Dock and Delap Dock.
Japan Ambassador Hirohisa Soma handed over border management and health control equipment to key partners at a ceremony last Thursday at Amata Kabua International Airport.
Partnering with Japan and IOM are the Ministry of Health and Human Services, the RMI Ports Authority, and the Division of Immigration.
Representatives of each joined Ambassador Soma in speaking at Thursday’s handover ceremony, including Hilary Vanderwey, Head of IOM Majuro Office, Edlen Anzures, Deputy Secretary of the MOHHS, Mercyba Balos, Director of Immigration, and Zoya Tayag, Deputy Director of the RMI Ports Authority.
The handover is part of Japan’s assistance to the Project for “Strengthening Capacity of Border Control for Responding to Infectious Diseases in Pacific Island Countries” for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and six other Pacific Island countries in collaboration with IOM.
The equipment and facilities handed over are essential tools to improve border management and health control capacity at entry points. They include: One two-room modular office unit for health screening and immigration procedures for AKIA, 25 CCTV cameras for trace-tracking communicable diseases in AKIA, six hand washing stations for Uliga/Delap/Ebeye Docks), and one mobile toilet station for Delap Dock.
In addition, this project has provided equipment to enhance disease surveillance, emergency response and operational resilience. These include:
- An ambulance and health kiosks for rapid response and community health screening.
- Upgrades to the MIDAS system, including mobile diagnostic kits, passport scanners, and cybersecurity infrastructure for improved immigration processing and disease surveillance.
- Essential communication tools, sanitation equipment, air purifiers, surveillance systems and a dedicated two-room building to facilitate safe and efficient port operations.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Soma reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to developing resilient health systems for universal health coverage, as announced at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in July last year. He also commended the unwavering efforts of IOM staff to deliver the friendship from the Japanese people to the Marshallese people in a most timely and effective manner to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of the RMI to potential pandemic threats.
“IOM sincerely thanks project partners for their passionate and sustained engagement. This collaboration has been instrumental in bringing the project to a successful close,” said Hilary Vanderwey, the head of the IOM sub-office in Majuro. “These advancements will significantly enhance the Marshall Islands’ capacity to detect, prevent and respond to health threats at its borders, ultimately safeguarding both residents and visitors.”
The ceremony wrapped up with a ribbon cutting in front of the new kiosk facility that will be used for health and immigration screening.