Jhpiego teams with CARE to reestablish Indonesian health care facilities
21 January 2005
Baltimore, Md. – Jhpiego, an international health affiliate
of The Johns Hopkins University, is partnering with the Atlanta-based humanitarian group CARE to
reestablish high-quality heath care facilities in the Indonesian province of Aceh. This partnership
will provide immediate and long-term support for rebuilding efforts in the hard-hit region, where
more than 160,000 lives were lost to the tsunami.
Jhpiego has worked to strengthen health care services in Indonesia for over 30 years,
working closely with the Ministry of Health, nongovernmental organizations, and local professional and
business groups. Jhpiego’s network of obstetricians, midwives, nurses and pediatricians is unmatched
in Indonesia.
"We are extremely pleased to partner with CARE in this important work," said Dr.
Leslie Mancuso, President and CEO of Jhpiego. "In this tragic time, women are pregnant, babies are being
born, and these families are in need of health services. This Jhpiego–CARE partnership will help assure
that the urgent health care needs of mothers and children are addressed now and in the months and years
to come."
Dr. Mancuso has been in Indonesia since early January working with local Jhpiego staff
and officials to assess damage and develop strategies to rebuild facilities and reestablish the
health care system in Aceh. Mancuso has surveyed conditions in Aceh with Indonesian government officials
and has met with many citizens personally affected by the tragedy.
Reestablishing services in hospitals and community health clinics is a top priority.
Seventy-seven community health clinics in Aceh province were destroyed by the tsunami and it is
estimated that approximately 70 percent of health care workers lost their lives, are missing or have
left Aceh. At the eight hospitals left standing, crowded conditions and lack of adequate supplies
and equipment are hampering the ability to treat the sick and injured.
"The magnitude of the tragedy in Aceh is indescribable, but through the efforts of
Jhpiego, CARE and many other international aid organizations, we hope to assist the survivors in
rebuilding their lives and futures," concluded Mancuso.
About Jhpiego
For nearly 40 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health
workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that
strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the
household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to
national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through
advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance
improvement approaches.
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