Govt vaccinates children in volatile provinces<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in
\ncoordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) is running
\nan immunization program, which is expected to cover around 2.52
\nmillion children aged below five living in five riot-torn
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Called the Sub-National Immunization Day (SNID), the program
\nin general is meant to provide polio and measles vaccines and
\nvitamin A supplements for the children. The ministry also hopes
\nthe project will boost the nationwide campaign against polio as
\nthe government hopes to eradicate the virus by 2003.<\/p>\n
The volatile provinces are Irian Jaya, Aceh, Maluku, North
\nMaluku and East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
As of Dec. 11, the immunization had been conducted on 1.35
\nmillion children, with polio vaccination being the most
\nsuccessful with over 90 percent coverage. Vitamin supplements
\nwere below 60 percent, which was the least successful.<\/p>\n
\"So far this year (2000) Indonesia has been free of wild polio
\nvirus, which can cause children to suffer paralyzed feet in acute
\ncases,\" the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Achmad Sujudi
\ntold a media conference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said the immunization program was launched in the
\nprovinces as children living there are the most prone to disease
\nas a result of the protracted conflicts as well as natural
\ndisasters.<\/p>\n
\"These regions host a huge number of internally displaced
\npeople who are prone to diseases such as respiratory problems,
\ndiarrhea as well as other illnesses that usually attack children,
\nnamely polio, measles and conditions related to vitamin
\ndeficiencies,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
Project leader Broto Wasisto said in several areas the number
\nof vaccinated children exceeded the target due to the presence of
\nmigrants and newly born babies.<\/p>\n
According to data from the World Health Organization, before
\nthe development of the polio vaccine, the virus paralyzed or
\nkilled 500,000 children annually worldwide.<\/p>\n
\"Today, thanks to oral polio vaccine, an estimated three
\nmillion children who might otherwise have been disabled by polio
\nare able to run, walk and play normally,\" Georg Petersen, WHO
\nrepresentative in Indonesia, said.<\/p>\n
Since the World Health Assembly in 1988 decided to eradicate
\npolio by the year 2000, the number of polio cases has fallen by
\n85 percent, he said.<\/p>\n
The Americas and Western Pacific regions are certified polio-
\nfree and polio is gone from Europe, too, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Wild polio virus is now confined to only 20 countries,\"
\nPetersen added.<\/p>\n
In a bid to fight polio, WHO has stated that by every child's
\nfirst birthday, they should receive at least four doses of oral
\npolio vaccine.<\/p>\n
A systematic vaccination of all children in a community over a
\nshort period of time ensures that the virus does not have a \"safe
\nplace\" to live, Petersen said.<\/p>\n
\"As long as a single child remains infected with polio virus,
\nchildren in all countries are at risk. The virus can be easily
\nre-imported into a country and spread rapidly. Therefore, a
\ncoordination of eradication efforts in all countries is the key
\nto success.\" (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-vaccinates-children-in-volatile-provinces-1447893297",
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