WVII to continue Kalimantan project

JAKARTA (JP): World Vision International Indonesia (WVII) will receive US$100,000 in aid from Hong Kong-based World Vision to continue its health project in Sanggau, West Kalimantan.

Edy Sianipar, the WVII area manager for Jakarta, West and Central Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan, told The Jakarta Post from Pontianak on Tuesday that the funds will be used to finance the three-year old project.

"Although the amount is only small, we are sure that it will be very helpful," he said.

The starting fund of US$860,000, which came from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Vision Relief and Development (WVRD), is expected to run out at the end of September.

Larry Casazza, director of health/child survival programs of the WVRD, said that the project could not receive additional funds from either USAID or WVRD because their request lost out to other grant-seekers.

"The USAID receives about 40 proposals each year and only 20 of them are funded," he said.

"It demands a progress report and details of the next program," which, he added, were not included in WVII's request for additional funding.

The child survival project is located in Batang Tarang and Tayan Hilir, which are two sub-districts covering 19 villages and 84 hamlets with a population of 31,147.

Untung Sidupa, the project manager, said that WVII will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Health as well as Samaria and the Harapan Katulistiwa Foundation, two local non- governmental organizations.

According to Untung, both sub-districts were chosen because of their high maternal and infant mortality rates.

"Our main target is to reduce the rate by motivating the villagers to take part in our project," he explained. "So when the project is finished, the people are expected to be able to take care of their own health."

Untung said that the project has assisted local public health centers in both Batang Tarang and Tayan Hilir in the training of village health care workers.

The project also operates village drug posts, health insurance plans and health service posts for mothers and their infants in various villages.

It has also installed nine gravity-flow, piped-water systems and built 22 public latrines. (05)