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)