Accra, April 21, GNA - The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research of the University of Ghana, has donated chocolates worth GH¢3,500 to residents of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, affected by the turbulent earthquake that claimed thousands of lives in that country. The donation being the contributions of staff and management of the institute was made through the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Jiro Inamura, in Accra. A statement issued by Professor Alexander Kwadwo Nyarko, the Director of the Institute, to the GNA in Accra on Thursday, said; 93We identify with the people of Japan at this time. We share in their loss and regret the devastating destruction of lives and properties the earthquake has caused the country, especially residents of Fukushima". It said the Institute has a strong bond with the Fukushima prefecture and noted that Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, whom the facility was named after, was born in Inawashiro in Fukushima.

The statement said Dr. Noguchi was a great Japanese medical researcher, who travelled to Ghana to study the cause of yellow fever and 93he died from yellow fever in 1928. Also, the first set of medical personnel who were sent from Japan to Ghana came from Fukushima Medical University in 1969".

It explained that the donation was meant to remind the good people of Fukushima that their friends in Ghana were thinking about them and wish them smooth recovery from the disaster.

Mr. Jiro Inamura, expressed his gratitude to the Institute on behalf of the people of Fukushima, saying 91The people of Fukushima are grateful to your Institute for donating these boxes of delicious Ghana chocolates to them, the important message you are sending across to them is not quantity but solidarity=85,".

He said the Institute has demonstrated to the people that they feel their pain and loss, expressing the hope that as they eat the bars of chocolates, they would be renewed and have strength to survive and recover from the unfortunate disaster.

The Government of Japan has contributed in significant ways to the activities of the Institute since its establishment in 1979 and the initial facilities of the Institute were built with a grant aid from the Government of Japan as a gift to the people of Ghana in memory of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi.'