Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Australia is providing AUD 25 million (Rp 247 billion) in assistance to help Indonesia improve access to HIV services in its two Papua provinces.
According to Australian Embassy media release on Monday, the assistance was part of the $100 million HIV partnership commitment between Australia and Indonesia (2008-16).
The Australian Government, through its aid program, AusAID, has been combating HIV with the Indonesian Government in Papua and West Papua since 2004.
The new Rapidly Expanding Access to Care for HIV (REACH) program will be building on the success of the existing partnership.
Acting Head of AusAID in Indonesia, Mat Kimberley is travelling to Papua with the Indonesian Minister for Health, Dr Nafsiah Mboi to see first-hand how the partnership makes a difference to the lives of people living with HIV.
"We share the same concern as Indonesia on the HIV epidemic in Papua and West Papua, which have the highest HIV prevalence in Indonesia," said Mat Kimberley.(IGT)
