Grant for maternity huts

Grant for maternity huts

JAKARTA: Jayawijaya regency in Irian Jaya has received a grant
of Rp 35 million from the Australian government to stimulate the
establishment of village maternity huts (Polindes) to support the
village midwives program.

The assistance is expected to encourage local residents to
build more structures, where midwives can provide family planning
services, mother and child health care, training of traditional
birth attendants and community education on hygiene.

Improvement of maternal and child health care is among the top
priorities in the development of Irian Jaya.

The Australian government has been providing grant aid to
support projects specifically targeted at women and children in
Jayawijaya. (pan)