AusAID In Indonesia - a 25% increase

The package of assistance to Bali's health infrastructure was hailed by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as one of the most significant contributions by Australia for the Indonesian people. On May 13, Mr. Downer announced a 25 percent increase in aid funding for Indonesia. He said that in recognition of the importance of Australia's relationship with Indonesia, and the significant challenges Indonesia is facing, total Australian aid to Indonesia will increase by A$30.1 million in 2003-2004. This represents an increase of 25 percent from the allocation in 2002-2003 of A$ 121.6 million to A$ 151.7 million in 2003-2004.The increase in the allocation for Indonesia is about one-third of the total A$79 million increase in Australia's total aid budget of A$1.89 billion.

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The work associated with the package is expected to begin in June and be completed early in 2004. In addition Australia is having discussions with The Bali Department of Health and Sanglah Hospital to determine the most effective form of A$ 900.000 assistance to Bali's emergency care initiative.

Indonesia's Minister of Health, Mr Sujudi together with the Governor of Bali, Dewa Made Beratha, observed the signing of an agreement between the Managing Director of Sanglah Hospital, Dr I Gusti Lanang M Rudiartha, the head of Bali Provincial Health Services, Dr Made Molin Yudiasa, representing the Government of Indonesia and Sam Zappia, Counsellor Development Cooperation, representing the Australian Government, in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday, 28 May 2003. The signing was witnessed the Director Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Sri Astuti Suparmanto M Sc. PH.

The signing of the agreement is a significant step in the implementation of a A$10.5 million package of assistance to Bali, announced by the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, on 15 February 2003. In the wake of the Bali bombings this assistance from Australia is provided to improve health services to the Balinese people as a practical, living memorial to the 88 Australian victims of the Bali tragedy and responds to the Australian public's desire to improve medical/health facilities for the Balinese people. The memorial package also recognises the impact of the atrocity on Indonesians and Australia's wish to support one of the most important neighbors and to strengthen Australia's relationship with the people of Indonesia.

The Bali Health Assistance Package also includes:

• Building a community eye treatment clinic for the Bali health department allow the expansion of existing work of restoring eyesight to Indonesians free of charge. It would also provide a training centre for ophthalmologists and increase the number of Indonesian doctors able to perform cataract and implant surgery. There are an estimated 51,000 Balinese who are blind from cataracts, the bulk of whom are poor. A simple twenty minute operation can restore their vision. The clinic will be a worthy living memorial to those who died in the October 12 bombings.
  
• The provision of postgraduate scholarships for study in Australia and the provision of specialised short-term training to health professionals.
  
  
  

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