Free clinic for the poor opens

BEKASI: A free clinic for the poor, the Gerai Sehat Bekasi, was opened by three organizations on Saturday at Jl. Chairil Anwar No. 35, Margahayu, East Bekasi.

Clinic director Piprin B Yanuarso said it was hoped that the opening of the health center for the poor would motivate other organizations to follow suit. "I hope the clinic will become a model for free health services for poor people."

The three organizations are Dompet Duafa, Proctor and Gamble (P&G) and the Indonesian Pediatricians Association (IDAI).

IDAI chairman Hardiono Pusponegoro said 4,000 poor people in the area had already registered as patients.

According to Hardiono, the clinic will also disseminate information on caring for infants.

Gerai Sehat Bekasi is the third clinic to be operated by the organizations after one in South Jakarta and another in Tangerang. -- JP