MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide $A3 million to the Government of China to improve health services and drinking water supplies in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
I have today participated in a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding for this new Australian aid project. The project aims to improve the health of people living in poor rural areas of Shigatse Municipality, 260 kilometres west of Lhasa.
The Australian Government funding, to be provided over three years through AusAID, will fund technical assistance, training, construction materials and equipment.
The project will directly benefit women and children through combating childhood diseases, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, and also by delivering better health care during pregnancy and childbirth. Another benefit is that women will have access to water piped into their villages. This will save them having to walk many kilometres to fetch water for their families. And the quality of the water will be improved, providing additional health benefits.
This is Australia's first major technical cooperation project in the Tibet Autonomous Region. However Australia has supported a number of other small-scale activities in cooperation with local government authorities in the region, some involving Australian Non Government Organisations.
It is also our first new project in China following the recent review of Australia's overseas aid program. The project reflects the Australian Government's commitment to assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.
BEIJING
Media contacts:
Beijing: Rick Nicolls or Innes Wilox (Australian Embassy) 8610 6532 2331
Canberra: Michelle Hardy (AusAID) 02 6206 4968