Second anti-polio round starts today<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch today the second
\nround of the mass polio immunization program, more determined to
\nensure success by making up for the shortcomings found in the
\nfirst round last month.<\/p>\n
The various immunization posts that have been set up in every
\nvillage across the country are under strict orders to ensure that
\nnot a single child below the age of five years old escapes
\nvaccination.<\/p>\n
The second round of the drive will last for one week but most
\nprovinces, judging from last month's experience, are expected to
\ncomplete the task within a day or two.<\/p>\n
In all, more than 22.17 million children should be vaccinated.<\/p>\n
A 100 percent coverage is vital to eradicate polio from
\nIndonesia once and for all.<\/p>\n
In the first round, the result reached 102 percent of the
\noriginal target. The discrepancy was caused by the fact that
\nthere had been children born since the government ran a survey on
\nthe number of children under five years old.<\/p>\n
The 102 percent rate was no cause for joy. There were children
\nthat still eluded the campaign in the first round in several
\nprovinces, mostly because they live in isolated and remote areas.
\nThere were also reports that some parents, particularly among
\nisolated tribes, refused to send their children to the
\nimmunization centers.<\/p>\n
East Timor had the lowest success ratio, with 85 percent of
\nthe total of registered children immunized, officials said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health, which is supervising the campaign,
\nsaid the government is counting on the help of the people to
\nensure success.<\/p>\n
\"The anti-polio drive will not be a success without people's
\nparticipation, including the Family Welfare Movement (PKK),\"
\nNyoman Kumara Rai, Director General of the Public Health Guidance
\nEducation, told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
The PKK is a grassroots women's organization that has branches
\nin every village. A branch is usually chaired by the village
\nchief's wife. PKK's members are running most of the show at the
\nimmunization centers.<\/p>\n
Nyoman said that the government has also relocated some of the
\nposts to ensure more effectiveness.<\/p>\n
One of the problems in the first round was that many
\nimmunization centers ran out of polio vaccines because they
\nunderestimated the number of children under five years old.<\/p>\n
The immunization campaign will have to be repeated again in
\n1996 and in 1997, so that Indonesia will be completely free of
\nthe polio virus before the turn of the century.<\/p>\n
The total cost of the campaign is put at Rp 45 billion ($19.7
\nmillion), with 36 percent of the funds provided by the central
\ngovernment's budget, 13 percent by the local administrations'
\nbudgets, 17 percent by foreign sponsors, 29 percent by private
\ndonations and the rest from public donations.<\/p>\n
Foreign sponsors include Unicef and Rotary International. (31)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/second-anti-polio-round-starts-today-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }