Funds to be set aside for health services

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Governor Syahrial Oesman told regents and mayors in the South Sumatra province to set aside funds for health services to prevent the spread of marasmus and polio in their respective areas.

"These two diseases affect our children and posyandu (integrated health post) are the best way to deal with it. It's about time (local) governments provide funds for posyandu in their budgets," Syahrial said on Monday.

The province plans to reopen 5,902 posyandu and establish 1,598 new ones by the year 2008. Each posyandu will receive operational funds of Rp 100,000 (US$11) per month from the provincial budget and Rp 50,000 from the state budget. -- JP