U.S. govt grants over US$27m to RI

U.S. govt grants over US$27m to RI

JAKARTA: The U.S. government handed over on Wednesday Rp 226 billion (US$27 million) in a grant to the Indonesian government, to help finance the ongoing family planning program and improve the health of mothers and infants in the country.

The grant was handed over in a ceremony where officials of both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Indonesia was represented by Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi and acting head of the Family Planning National Coordinating Body (BKKBN) Lalu Sudarmadi, while representing the U.S. government was Director of USAID's International Cooperation Program William Frej.

Achmad Sujudi said the financial assistance was part of a U.S. grant of $130 million for health programs to Indonesia from 1999 to 2005.

Achmad Sujudi said he hoped that the grant would help Indonesia to reduce maternal deaths that currently stand at 373 for every 1,000 births and the infant mortality rate that is currently 46 for every 1,000 births. -- Antara