"In our effort to prevent and reduce public health problem in the province."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A good cooperation among stakeholders is needed to help improve people`s health in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), one of the poorest province in eastern Indonesia.
The province continues to grapple with health problem, and therefore all institution, public as well as private must develop partnership to improve the community health care system there.
During her recent working visit to the provincial capital of Kupang, Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said some of the main challenges facing the health sector in East Nusa Tenggara were the lack of human resources, funds, and infrastructure.
"The problem of inadequate human resources, funds, and infrastructure is experienced by almost all remote areas in Indonesia and therefore a strong partnership and shared commitment is the best way to deal with these issues," Nafsiah stated.
Referring to the proposed construction of an international-standard hospital in Kuapng, the health minister expressed optimism that it could help significantly reduce people`s health problems in the province.
"In our effort to prevent and reduce public health problem in the province, all stakeholders must build a good cooperation and partnership to do so," Nafsiah noted.
Further, the wife of former NTT Governor Ben Mboi added that the presence of Siloam Hospital in Kupang would benefit the local community.
"Siloam Hospital Group management will build a world-class health facility in the province to provide the local community with access to affordable health care," Nafsiah said.
The health minister also praised the Siloam Hospital Group for its commitment to building a state-of-the-art hospital in East Nusa Tenggara.
In the light of this, she expressed hope that the local government would support the construction of the health-care facility because according to her the Siloam Hospital Group has been providing satisfactory health services across the country.
Meanwhile, NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya said the provincial government has given a 2.3-hectare plot of land to Lippo Group for the construction of the international standard hospital with a super mall and education facility.
The governor noted that Lippo Group would help move the wheel of macro economy in the province because it has a team of qualified and experienced professionals in the respective areas of business activities.
"It is important to dispel the impression that East Nusa Tenggara is poor and lagging in terms of education and health," the governor noted.
James Riyadi, the owner of the companies under the banner of Lippo Group, said that in the next 30 to 50 years the Asian business center would be shifted to east Indonesian region including East Nusa Tenggara.
"The shift of investment could not be stemmed because some goods will no longer be produced in the area where the can be marketed but in the location where they have the raw materials in abundance," Riyadi explained.
Theo L.Sambuaga, the Preisent of Lippo Group, said in Kupang that the group has a commitment to developing the province in the field of education, health, and people`s empowerment.
"Lippo Group is present in East Nusa Tenggara with its mission to empower the local people in terms of education, health, and economic improvement," Sambuaga said.
In Kupang on Monday, Sambuaga and NTT provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Lippo Group President Director James Riady on the construction of Siloam International Hospital in the province.
Established with a vision to increase equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare across Indonesia, the Siloam Hospitals Group is the most progressive and innovative healthcare provider.
Therefore, Kupang Mayor Jonas Salen has expressed his pleasure over the planned Siloam International Hospital in the East Nusa Tenggara`s provincial city.
"The Kupang city administration and the people are pleased to welcome the plans for the construction of the Siloam International Hospital and extend their gratitude to the Lippo Group and PT Bahana Niaga for realising their commitment of investing in the region," Salen said on Monday.
According to him, the hospital would be built in Kupang with an investment of around Rp400 billion. In addition, a super mall and a superstructure for primary to intermediate education would also be built.
He also called on all people and stakeholders in the province to fully support the project of Lippo Group to improve their welfare and health.
"The construction of the hospital is part of plans for regional autonomy where the central government empowers regional governments to cooperate with investors for the improvement of people`s welfare," Salen noted.
According to Anang Prayudi, the director of Siloam Hospital in Kupang, the hospital will employ more local manpower.
"The composition is made up of 60 percent local manpower and 40 percent from outside the province," Prayudi said, adding that the hospital would be equipped with a super mall and a superstructure for primary to intermediate education.
Prayudi noted that the Siloam Hospital would not merely employ the local manpower but also provide them with in-depth education including practice and internship program at a number of schools and the same hospitals across the country.
"It is our commitment to providing adequate and optimal services to realize vision and mission of the Siloam Hospital in East Nusa Tenggara," he went on.
According to him, the construction of the four-story hospital will start early 2013 and is expected to give the health services to the local community two years later.
The Siloam Hospitals Group`s exceptional operational and quality standards are enabled by the use of leading-edge technology, equipment and training.
Its collaboration with the Mochtar Riady Institute of Nanotechnology (MRIN) and the Universitas Pelita Harapan`s Faculty of Medicine and School of Nursing is unique to Indonesia and demonstrates Siloam`s commitment to creating sustainable healthcare services across Indonesia.
(T.O001/INE/KR-BSR)
Reporter: by Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
