Campaign against polio to start

Campaign against polio to start

JAKARTA: Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said on Wednesday the government would organize a nationwide immunization program against polio on Sept. 12 to meet the standards of the World Health Organization.

Sujudi added that President Megawati Soekarnoputri would vaccinate her grandchildren to mark the beginning of the program.

"On that day all children will join the immunization program. It will last one week," Sujudi added.

According to the minister, the number of people contracting polio has decreased since the immunization program was first introduced in 1995.

The minister added that free vaccines would be given at public health centers (Puskesmas) and at clinics for children (Posyandu). - Antara