UNICEF praises Indonesia for providing clinics for mothers, children

www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-26 16:48:11

JAKARTA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) praised Monday the success of Indonesia's efforts in providing health clinics for mothers and children.

The UNICEF's appreciation was conveyed during the opening of the clinic, popularly called Posyandu in Indonesia, in Gresik, East Java.

"The success of Posyandu contributes to the long-term development of the country," Stephen J.W., the UNICEF representative for Indonesia and Malaysia on the sidelines of opening the clinic in Leran village, in Gresik regency.

Gresik can be the example of Indonesia's success in providing health clinics for mothers and children, becomes the reference of other regions to establish such a clinic, the Antara news agency quoted Stephen as saying.

Speaking on the occasion, Kartika Soekarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesian first president who runs the foundation that runs the clinic, said that Gresik administrator has demonstrated continuing tremendous efforts to develop such a clinic.

On the behalf of her Kartika Soekarno Foundation (KSF), she signed the MoU to run the clinic with Gresik administration.

Gresik administration has been developing mother and children clinics since 2008 when it found many children in its jurisdiction suffered from malnutrition. It allocates more funds in its budget to revitalize 80 clinics for mothers and children, Gresik regency Secretary Khusnul Khuluq said.

"We currently are developing a program that combines posyandu with the education for children in their early ages (PAUD). We see that these two programs are completing to each other and would provide benefits for our children in the future.

Previously the regency had received assistance to develop the public health clinics from Germany government through Deutsche Gesellschaft feur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) program.