Posyandu revival campaign starts

CIANJUR, West Java: The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare opened a Posyandu (integrated community health post) here on Tuesday to mark a nationwide revival campaign for the neighborhood-based health centers in support of the Healthy Indonesia 2010 program.

"To support the program, the West Java administration will also distribute some one million Alabendazol worm tablets to elementary school students in the province," Mariani Reksoprodjo, spokeswoman for the ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry's data, 70 percent of the around 250,000 Posyandu have been forced to close down due to the prolonged economic crisis.

The Posyandu are the core units of the health service for mothers and children, especially in remote areas. (edt)