ADB presents health grant

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a Rp 3 billion (US$375,000) loan for the province's health program aimed at controlling contagious diseases, Antara reported yesterday.

M. Akib Kamaluddin of the provincial health office said the ADB loan would fund his office's program to eliminate tuberculosis, acute respiratory tract infection, measles and malaria, among other illnesses.

"The ADB fund will be used to procure medical equipment and medicines, as well as finance the operational costs of the health centers here," he said, adding the high prevalence of communicable diseases in the province was due to low awareness and shortage of funds.