Australia extends aid

PADANG, West Sumatra: The Australian government has stated that it will give Dr. M. Jamil Hospital here Rp 100 billion (US$36.4 million) worth of medical equipment, Antara reported yesterday.

The assistance, however, will be presented under the condition that Indonesia provides a building to house the equipment, the news agency quoted the secretary of the West Sumatra administration, Zainal Bakar, as saying here recently.

Bakar said the administration agreed to provide Rp 4 billion over the course of five years, plus Rp 5 billion from the Ministry of Health's annual budget. The funds will be used to build facilities, including an emergency room, central operation unit, maternity ward and an intensive care unit. (swe)