JICA said the 5-S organizational method (seiri or sort), seiton or set), seiso ro shine), seiketsu or standardize) and shitsuke or sustain) and kaizen (continuous quality improvement) were used in 15 Africa countries backed by Sri Lanka and Japan.

JICA, in collaboration with Sri Lanka, has worked in improving the quality of medical services in 15 countries in Africa, through this approach.

"It made achievements in reducing neonatal infections in spite of limited human, physical and financial resources," JICA said in a statement.

Staff in state hospitals in Sri Lanka such as the Castle Street hospital for women had applied Japanese management techniques to improve patient care.

JICA said it had won a UN award for promoting 'south - south' co-operation.

"South-South Cooperation takes a form in which a developing country in the southern hemisphere supports other developing countries," JICA said.

"In recent years, there has been an increase in interest and expectations for South-South Cooperation to supplement assistance from traditional donors, both in terms of quantity and quality."

JICA has helped systematize the successful experience Sri Lankan experience into a 5S-KAIZEN-TQM (total quality management) into a methodological model to facilitate easier learning and adoption.