Government considers another anti-polio drive in November<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government hopes to hold another polio immunization drive in
\nNovember to stamp out the disease, a health official said on
\nWednesday, a day after launching a program to vaccinate millions
\nof children for the second time this year.<\/p>\n
There have been 240 polio cases in Indonesia since May, when
\nthe crippling disease re-emerged after being eradicated from the
\nworld's fourth most populous country a decade ago.<\/p>\n
In the two rounds of immunization so far, Indonesia has
\ntargeted around 24 million children across the vast archipelago.<\/p>\n
The campaign followed two smaller programs in West Java, where
\nthe disease was first found, and in two adjacent provinces.<\/p>\n
\"We are still discussing (the possibility). We are awaiting
\nthe results of the last immunization drive,\" Minister of Health
\nSiti Fadilah Supari told AFP.<\/p>\n
A Health Ministry official said that, although Tuesday's
\nprogram had been a success, Indonesia needed to carry out one
\nmore round to finally wipe out the water-borne disease that can
\ncause irreversible paralysis within hours.<\/p>\n
\"This second round will take a week ... but on this second day
\nwe have already received reports (of) reaching around 70 percent.
\nWe are optimistic,\" said Jane Soepardi, the ministry's head of
\nimmunization.<\/p>\n
Asked about the World Health Organization's advice to hold a
\nthird round of national polio vaccinations this year, Soepardi
\nsaid: \"In November. The sooner the better.\"<\/p>\n
\"However, it depends on the supply of resources, vaccines and
\nfunding,\" she told Reuters.<\/p>\n
The immunization program thus far has cost US$24 million.
\nAround one million people are employed for each nationwide polio
\ndrive. The workers visit homes to ensure children go to the
\nneighborhood immunization posts on the day of the vaccination
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
The country reported its last case of polio on Aug. 14, but so
\nfar this year nobody stricken with the disease has died.<\/p>\n
The global battle against polio has faced setbacks in the past
\ntwo years since Nigeria's northern state of Kano banned
\nimmunization out of fear it could cause sterility or spread
\nHIV\/AIDS. Vaccinations resumed after a 10-month ban.<\/p>\n
But the virus spread across Africa, crossed the Red Sea into
\nSaudi Arabia and Yemen, and reached Indonesia, infecting
\npreviously polio-free countries along the way.<\/p>\n
WHO says 19 countries have been reinfected with polio in the
\nlast two years.<\/p>\n
Neighboring countries in Southeast Asia have also been
\nconducting immunization programs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-considers-another-anti-polio-drive-in-november-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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