PRESIDENT PRESENTS AWARDS TO PUBLIC HEALTHCARE PERFORMERS

Jakarta, Dec 19 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presented distinguished public health services awards to a number of government officials and private individuals at a National Health Day ceremony here Friday.

Among the government officials who received "Manggala Karya Bakti Husada Kartika" trophies at the ceremony held at the Jakarta Fair grounds in Kemayoran were a number of provincial governors, district heads and town mayors.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X received the trophy as his province had been ranked the best in public health care terms by the health ministry.

The provinces rated the second and third best in public health terms were respectively Bali, represented by Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, and Central Java, represented by Governor Bibit Waluyo.

West Nusa Tenggara Governor M Zainul Majdi received a "Ksatria Bakti Husada Arutala" medal as his administration had allocated the biggest amount of regional budget funds to the health sector.

The president also handed similar awards o Metro Mayor Lukman Hakim and the head of Oku Timur district representing nine district/municipalities outside Java.

On the same occasion. the Health Minister presented other awards to several individuals who had rendered outstanding services in the health field.

They were Indonesian ambassador to Switzerland Makarim Wibisono who received a "Ksatria Bakti Husada Aditya" medal, and the head of the Cipto Mangukusumo General Hospital's neuro-surgery department, Prof RM Padmosantjojo, as a pioneer in neurosurgery in Indonesia, and for his success in an operation of the youngest Siamese twins, and Pelita Ilmu Foundation chairman Prof Samsuridjal Djauzi, Organization for Eradication of Tuberculosis (PPTI) chairman Ratih Siswono Yudhuhusodo, and Sinar Harapan daily reporter Web Warouw.

The function to mark the 44th National Health Day was themed "When the People Are Healthy, the Nation's Quality Will Increase."