Mitsui O.S.K.Lines,Ltd. (MOL)  announced that it supported PH-Japan’s (Peoples’ HOPE Japan’s - PHJ) Myanmar healthcare program to provide free transportation of PH-Japan’s container filled with 2,000 units of digital thermometers and electronic blood pressure manometers to hospitals and medical facilities in Myanmar. This is the first instance of MOL support in the form of free transport of goods to Myanmar.

The medical instruments were shipped from Yokohama port on June 21 and arrived at the Port of Yangon, Myanmar, on July 17. On August 11, a ceremony marking the arrival of medical equipment was held.

Despite fast-growing economy in Myanmar, it remains one of the least affluent countries in East Asia. According to the World Health Organization, Myanmar continues to struggle with the lack of access to healthcare and as a result, the country suffers from much higher morbidity and mortality compared to its neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region.

“MOL’s presence in Myanmar dates back to more than a hundred years ago as we grew our service network in our early days of operations. We are proud to support PH-Japan’s healthcare initiative and assist Myanmar our long-term partner to enhance healthcare access. It is also a testimony to MOL’s enduring commitment to facilitating further development in growing country where we operate,” said Joe Kam, Country Director of MOL Myanmar Ltd.

MOL set “For the UN Millennium Development Goals” as one of its social contribution activity philosophies. Their targets are: reduce infant mortality and improve maternity health, and halt and begin to reverse by of HIV/aids, malaria, and other diseases by 2015.