The promotion of health services to secure health for all people in every part of society was one of the priorities cited in the Yokohama Declaration. Prime Minister Abe told TICAD V: “In Japan we have built up a system in which anyone can readily visit a hospital even for minor health concerns. I would like to utilize Japan’s system and experiences in Africa. We will promote health care that everyone can access–in other words, „universal health coverage,‟ or „UHC‟… In the future I intend to make UHC part of the „Japan Brand.”

In this area, the public sector plays a key role. Support through ODA will remain necessary as a matter of course. In Africa as well as other regions, however, various measures to provide medical and health services and improve health and nutrition conditions without dependence on public funds and goodwill contributions alone are pursued and implemented under private sector-led or public-private partnership initiatives.

Various business models are conceivable in this area. A business model may seek to secure income covering costs for sustainable services. In other models, companies may bear part of costs under their corporate social responsibility programs and provide risk money without pursuing high returns. Japanese companies‟ well-known contributions to health, medical and nutrition services in Africa include Sumitomo Chemical Co.’s Olyset Net sales in Tanzania, Ajinomoto Co.’s KoKo Plus sales in Ghana and Alliance Forum Foundation’s Spirulina Project for improving nutrition conditions in Zambia.

In this section, we will welcome and post information provided voluntarily or through third parties about Japanese companies’ contributions to health and medical services, relevant business models and ODA’s model case of technical cooperation in Africa.

Activities of Japanese enterprises and organizations

Alliance Forum Foundation   Nutrition project ” Spirulina Project”

Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited “The pursuit of ‘business’ development”

(Reprinted from “International Development Journal”, issued in March 2013)

AJINOMOTO CO., INC “Business strategy for co-creation of value”

(Reprinted from “The International Development Journal” Issued in September 2012)

PHILIA.Co.,Ltd.. “We would like to contribute to countermeasures for malaria and dengue fever ”

(Reprinted from “The International Development Journal” Issued in September 2013)

Saraya Co.,Ltd.. “Antiseptic solution that save human lives in countries without waterworks”

(Reprinted from Nikkei BP mook “African Business” (edited by Nikkei Business), issued on 5 September 2013)

Relevant projects

Collaboration Helps Improve Nutrition in Africa

(ODA White Paper 2012)

USAID, JICA and Ajinomoto Signed Memorandum of Understanding on Weaning Child Nutrition Improvement in Ghana

(JICA website, news of 31 May 2012)

Project Aims to Reduce Infant and Child Mortality Rate in Zambia

(ODA White Paper 2012)