UNICEF Opens 227 Child Care Centers In Indonesia

January 26, 2007 4:26 p.m. EST

Siddique Islam - All Headline News South East Asia Correspondent

New York, NY (AHN) - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has completed construction of the first of the 227 mother-and-child health centers in Indonesia's tsunami-devastated Aceh province and earthquake-hit Nias Island.

"Through these family health and development centers, mothers, children and babies will have immediate and full-time access to professional midwives, specialized infant health care and learning and development activities," UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Aceh Edouard Beigbeder says.

"This is a brand new facility for the community. It's not replacing something; it's giving the community something they didn't have before. Strengthening community-based health systems will have a long-lasting impact on child survival and development and will help facilitate Aceh and Nias' recovery, rehabilitation and development."

UNICEF has set aside $11 million for the construction of the centers, in addition to $90 million for the construction of more than 300 permanent schools. The campaign also marks the first time UNICEF has taken on a construction role.

Indonesia was the worst-hit of the dozen Indian Ocean nations that were struck by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami on 26 December 2004, accounting for some two thirds of the death toll of more than 200,000, with over half a million others left homeless.