North Sumatra has fastest polio infection rate: WHO<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) found that North Sumatra has
\nthe fastest polio infection rate in Indonesia, with three new
\ncases being found since the second round of the national
\nimmunization campaign (PIN) on Sept. 27.<\/p>\n
A WHO consultant, David Bassett, said the latest polio case in
\nthe province was discovered in Labuhan Batu regency on Oct. 16.<\/p>\n
He said North Sumatra had recorded three polio cases in
\nOctober -- after the second round of immunization campaign -- and
\nthat the number of polio cases recorded was very high compared to
\nother provinces. This needed urgent attention as children were
\nnow at great risk of contracting the disease, said Bassett.<\/p>\n
Bassett said that WHO, together with the Ministry of Health,
\nwas now concentrating on polio eradication in North Sumatra as
\nthe highest rate of infection had been recorded in this province.<\/p>\n
According to Bassett, the four areas of the province with the
\nhighest risk of infection are Binjai and Pematang Siantar
\nmunicipalities, and Dairi and Samosir regencies.<\/p>\n
The four areas were remote areas where medical services were
\nlacking. A large number of children in these four areas needed to
\nbe immunized during the next round of the immunization campaign.
\nIf not, many of them would contract polio, said Bassett.<\/p>\n
A official from the Ministry of Health, Asmaniar, said that
\nthe third round of immunization campaign would be held on Nov.
\n30. Thousands of health workers and volunteers would provide
\npolio immunization drops to children in North Sumatra, especially
\nin high risk areas prone to the disease.<\/p>\n
In quantitative terms, the number of sufferers in North
\nSumatra is still lower than in other provinces in Indonesia, such as
\nBanten. However, North Sumatra has seen an increase in the number
\nof polio cases following the second round of immunization.<\/p>\n
"The number of children suffering from polio in the nine
\nmonths up to Nov. 17 stood at 295 in 10 provinces, namely, Banten,
\nJakarta, West Java, East Java, Central Java, Lampung, North
\nSumatra, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Riau and South Sumatra.
\n"Banten is where most of the cases are, with a total of 160
\ncases, while North Sumatra is where many cases have been found
\nafter the second immunization round," said Asmaniar.<\/p>\n
He urged parents to bring their children to be immunized
\nduring the third round of immunization on Nov. 30.<\/p>\n
Deputy director of the North Sumatra Health Office, Syaiful
\nMunawar Sitompul, said that his office would set up 17,000
\nimmunization posts throughout the province, including in bus
\nstations, ferry terminals and airports.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/north-sumatra-has-fastest-polio-infection-rate-who-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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