Monday, April 14, 2008
President Receives US Health Minister
Source: The Jakarta Post

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received visiting US Health and Human Services Secretary, Michael O. Leavitt, at the presidential office here on Monday.

President Yudhoyono was accompanied by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda, State Secretary Hatta Radjasa, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie and
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari.

The U.S. health secretary is visiting Indonesia for two days from Monday to Tuesday, Apr. 14-15, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in health affairs between the two countries.

Leavitt had earlier visited the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the office of the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie on Monday morning. He also met with Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono.

According to U.S. Embassy data, through USAID the U.S. administers a program supporting Indonesia's national strategy to control bird flu and to prepare for any bird flu pandemic. The
program is being administered for the 2006-2008 period.

The strategy provides for public and private sector enlightenment campaigns in every subdistrict in Java, Bali, West Sumatra and Lampung.

Since 2005, the United States has provided Indonesia with US42.85 million to fund bird flu control and prevention programs.

Indonesia and the US also established an immunization program in 2005 in accordance with the Millennium Challenge Corporation.