Archived Media Release
9 May 2006
Ambassador Welcomes New Provincial Health Plan For Aceh
During a visit to Aceh today with the Indonesian Health Minister, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer, welcomed the first Provincial Health Strategic Plan (RENSTRA), which was developed with Australia’s help.
“The plan launched today is an important milestone both for the recovery of Aceh and for Indonesia’s national efforts to strengthen health services. Australia is very proud to have played a part in its development,” Mr Farmer said.
Mr Farmer and the Health Minister also officially re-opened the Provincial Health Office, which was severely damaged by the tsunami. Australia provided over $400,000 for repairs and refurbishment, and has worked with the provincial health sector since the disaster to restore health services.
“As a result there is now a stronger provincial health system, better able to provide and coordinate safe, efficient and effective care for the community,” Mr Farmer said.
Mr Farmer remarked on the significant progress of reconstruction during his visit to a number of Australian-funded projects in Banda Aceh. He noted that Zainoel Abidin’s Emergency department was fully operational, property boundaries had now been mapped for over 50,000 parcels of land, significant improvements had been made to temporary shelter and construction of village halls and schools was underway.
“I am pleased to see that much has changed in Aceh since I last visited, and significant progress has been made in reconstruction,” he said.
Mr Farmer was delighted to hand over officially the office of the Ministry of Religious Affair’s Banda Aceh Branch to its head, Drs H Aiyub Ahmad.
“The office – now restored after suffering severe damage from the tsunami - is responsible for managing 29 Islamic schools at primary and secondary levels and 18 Dayahs (Islamic Boarding Schools) around Banda Aceh, the capital of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province.”
“Australia has now spent more than $125 million in the restoration of education, health and community infrastructure and services in Aceh,” he said.
More than $220 million has already been allocated to relief and reconstruction in Aceh and North Sumatra.
For more information:
Didi Marjimi (Program Manager, Banda Aceh) – (0651) 741-0637