Poor children to be immunized for polio<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government urged parents from all walks of life on Tuesday to
\nparticipate in the National Immunization Program (PIN) for polio
\non Sept. 12 and Oct. 9 by allowing all children under five years
\nof age to be vaccinated.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi said that during the
\nimmunization program, the children would also get a Vitamin A
\nsupplement and children living in isolated areas would be
\nimmunized against measles.<\/p>\n
\"Children should get the polio vaccines regardless of whether
\ntheir parents are homeless or refugees, or have no residential
\ncards, such as those living in slum areas or in areas of
\nconflict,\" he said during a press briefing at his office.<\/p>\n
The government has provided 248,599 immunization posts to
\nserve 20.8 million children under five years old across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The PIN centers are available at baby health centers
\n(Posyandu), community health centers (Puskesmas), state-run and
\nprivately-run hospitals, health clinics and strategic places like
\nbus and train stations, traditional markets, kindergartens and
\nchildren's playgrounds.<\/p>\n
\"The non governmental organizations, the National Police and
\nthe National Army will help us conduct the program especially in
\nthe areas of conflict like North Maluku and Aceh,\" Suyudi said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia conducted national polio immunization drives in
\n1995, 1996 and 1997 which reportedly covered a total of 90
\npercent of the 25 million children aged under five years at that
\ntime.<\/p>\n
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia
\nhad to tackle between 25,000 to 60,000 cases of polio every year
\nbefore the polio immunization program. But there have been no
\ncases of polio reported in Indonesia since 1995.<\/p>\n
WHO, however, recommended that Indonesia conduct another round
\nof polio immunizations in 2002 as the country's neighbors like
\nIndia, Afghanistan and Pakistan were still not free from polio.<\/p>\n
\"With the global trade and global travel, there is always a
\npossibility of getting a reintroduction of a polio. Therefore we
\nneed to vaccinate children in Indonesia so they are properly
\nprotected against polio,\" Georg Petersen, the WHO Representative
\nfor Indonesia said.<\/p>\n
He said that once polio eradication was achieved, Indonesians
\ncould be commended for the delivery of public health to every
\nperson regardless of race, sex, religion, economic status or
\ngeography.<\/p>\n
Minister Suyudi said that the country hoped that WHO would
\ndeclare Indonesia polio-free by 2005.<\/p>\n
The immunization program will cost some Rp 103 billion, of
\nwhich some Rp 63 billion will come via grants from foreign donors
\nsuch as WHO, UNICEF, USAID, Rotary International, Aus AID, CDC
\nAtlanta and the Helen Keller Foundation.<\/p>\n
They will purchase the polio vaccines from drug firms PT Bio
\nPharma and distribute them to every provincial administration to
\nbe distributed to villages.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Pediatrician Association chairman
\nSri Rezeki S. Hadinegoro said that at least 1,320 pediatricians
\nwere ready to help with the program.<\/p>\n
According to her, 75 percent of people stricken with polio
\nnever showed any significant symptoms. The mild symptoms that are
\nassociated with polio are fever, fatigue, headaches, vomiting,
\nnausea, a stiff neck and pain in the legs.<\/p>\n
Sri added that the virus could be present in the intestines
\nfor two months before it attacked the human nervous system.<\/p>\n
\"It paralyzes humans by attacking the central nervous system
\nand can cause problems in the legs and\/or respiratory problems.
\nSome can suffer from total paralysis within hours or even die
\n(after exposure),\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-children-to-be-immunized-for-polio-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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