15 February 2005
Banda Aceh Public Hospital thanks ANZAC medical staff

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are assisting Indonesian Government authorities as part of the Australian Government program of humanitarian relief following the Boxing Day tsunami.

The ADF has been working in support of tsunami disaster relief in Indonesia's North Sumatra and Aceh provinces since 28 December 2004.

Relief assistance provided by Australia is part of a co-operative effort involving the ADF, DFAT (AusAID), and Emergency Management Australia. Water, tentage, medical supplies, blankets, other emergency provisions and logistical support have been provided.

In the tsunami-devastated provincial capital of Banda Aceh, the ADF has set up a water purification plant and has established the ANZAC Field Hospital, a hospital operated jointly by medical personnel of the ADF and the New Zealand Defence Force.

The Australian Navy amphibious transport ship, HMAS Kanimbla, delivered a detachment of Australian Army engineers on 13 January and has taken up station as a floating support and logistics base for relief and reconstruction work.

JPAU15FEB05PC018 Dr Rus Munanda Director of Medicine Banda Aceh Public Hospital thanks Brigadier David Chalmers Commander of the Australian Joint Task Force in Sumatra and Lieutenant Colonel Georgeina Whelan Commanding Officer of the Anzac Hospital Banda Aceh and her staff for the work they have done in helping to run the Surgical and Infectious Diseases Wards while the hospital’s Indonesian staff gradually returned to work. Today marks a milestone when Indonesian staff resumed full control of the hospital’s Infections Diseases Ward. (Date taken: 15 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	JPAU15FEB05PC027 An Indonesian nurse from the Infectious Diseases Ward cuts the welcome back ribbon put up by the ANZAC medical staff after the ward was handed back to the Indonesian medical staff. (Date taken: 15 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
JPAU15FEB05PC039 Medical Staff from the 1st and 2nd Health Support Battalions pose for a group photo with the Indonesian nurses of the Infections Diseases Ward at the Banda Aceh Public Hospital. ANZAC medical staff and the Banda Aceh Public Hospital reached a milestone today when Indonesian staff resumed full control of the hospital's Infectious Diseases Ward. (Date taken: 15 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res	JPAU15FEB05PC057 Indonesian nurses embrace Australian Army Nursing Officers to say thank you for the efforts of all the ANZAC medical staff as the Infectious Diseases Ward is handed back to the Indonesian Hospital. ANZAC medical staff and the Banda Aceh Public Hospital reached a milestone today when Indonesian staff resumed full control of the hospital's Infectious Diseases Ward. (Date taken: 15 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res
JPAU15FEB05PC068 An Indonesian nurse embraces Lance Corporal Heidi Turnbull from the 1st Health Support Battalion (Sydney) to say thank you for the efforts of all the ANZAC medical staff as the Infectious Diseases Ward is handed back to the Banda Aceh Public Hospital. ANZAC medical staff and the Banda Aceh Public Hospital reached a milestone today when Indonesian staff resumed full control of the hospital's Infectious Diseases Ward. (Date taken: 15 February 2005) Low-Res | Hi-Res