Navy launches civic work program

JAKARTA: A Navy warship with 43 doctors and over 100 other health workers on board has set sail to the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra to provide free health services to the islanders.

Navy Chief Admiral Tanto Kuswanto, who officially launched the Surya Bhaskara operation, said here yesterday that the LST-type warship is expected to arrive on the islands today.

The operation, which will run until Oct. 23, will also concentrate on providing health services in the densely-populated islands of Sipora, Siberut and Pagai.

"The crew members will also launch campaigns to provide islanders with information on law and nationalism, " he said.

Mentawai is a group of isolated islands where most of the population still lives in relatively primitive conditions. (rms)