Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Timor Leste are realizing a cooperation program for the sending of Indonesian health workers to Timor Leste initiated in 2005.

The director of placement service of the National Agency for Indonesian Manpower Protection and Placement (BNP2TKI), Haposan Saragih, said here on Saturday the realization of the program was marked by the sending of six Indonesian midwives to Timor Leste on Saturday.

The handing over of the health workers was carried out through the Timor Leste Consulate General in Kupang.

Haposan said the six workers would be the opener and would be continued in line with demand.

He said he was optimistic the government to government program would be successful.
He said the cooperation would be effective for one year with possible extension.

Timor Leste consul for East Nusa Tenggara Feliciano Da Costa welcomed the realization of the cooperation. He said it had long been waited for by his government.

He said he hoped the cooperation would help improve health service in Timor Leste, adding that country is still short of midwives.

He said around 60 sub-districts in Timor Leste have no midwives including five international standard hospitals.

"I guarantee 100 percent there will no problems like those met by Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China and other countries because Timor Leste is different," he said.

He said he hoped the cooperation could be renewed every year.

The release and handing over of the Indonesian migrant workers was also witnessed by the head of foreign health service exploitation of the ministry of health, Rini Rachmawati, and head of BP3TKI of East Nusa Tenggara, Tumbur Gultom. (*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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