Harapan Kita-Connecticut deal

JAKARTA (JP): A hospital for mothers and children hopes to learn how to create a better environment for child patients.

On Friday, the private-run Harapan Kita hospital in West Jakarta signed an agreement with the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Harapan's deputy director for nursing and medical support, Hadjat S. Digdowirogo, said parents and hospital staff needed a new approach so children were less frightened of doctors and hospitals.

A member of Harapan's board of trustees, H. Ainun Habibie, said "we should learn to minimize stress for child patients."

The Harapan Kita hospital, founded by the late First Lady Tien Soeharto, is one of a few hospitals for mothers and children.

The agreement was sponsored by the American branch of multinational firm ABB Combustion Engineering with the support of its local branch, PT ABB Energy Systems Indonesia.

The president of ABB, R.F. Cronin, represented the Medical Center while the state minister of research and technology, B.J. Habibie, and his wife H. Ainun, represented the Hospital's board of trustees.

Cronin signed the agreement with the hospital's director, Koesno Martoatmodjo.

Cronin said many company employees were involved in the Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut and the management decided to link up with company employees in other countries.

The agreement, to be evaluated every three years, includes exchanges in ideas and research on pediatrics. (anr)