Indonesia to immunize 22 million children
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi launched the final round of the national antipolio drive yesterday, aimed at immunizing nearly 22 million children under the age of five.
Sujudi urged parents to take their children to local immunization posts even if they were vaccinated during the 1995 and 1996 antipolio drive.
"Being vaccinated more than once will not reduce their resistance (to the disease), but will boost it," he said in Ambon, Maluku, where he kicked off the anti-polio drive.
The current three-day campaign is the first of two phases of the third and final round of the national drive.
The second phase will start on Oct. 7.
Throughout the country there are 286,000 immunization posts at public locations such as health centers, bus stations, kindergartens and child care centers.
According to Sujudi, a majority of children targeted for immunization in Java and Bali were vaccinated yesterday.
"Parents who cannot bring their toddlers to immunization posts will be visited by our people," said Sujudi.
Accompanying Sujudi yesterday were Maluku Governor M. Akib Latukonsina, Deputy Governor R.S. Soeranto and Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
Deputy Governor R.S. Soeranto said about 273,000 toddlers throughout Maluku province would receive an oral polio vaccination in the first phase of the campaign.
He said that during the second phase, toddlers in Ambon, Central Maluku, North Maluku, Central Halmahera and Southeast Maluku would also receive a measles vaccination.
Soeranto added that the government would also provide a tetanus vaccination to women between 19 and 39 years old free of charge.
In Irian Jaya, the anti-polio campaign is being assisted by Pelita Air Service which has provided helicopters to reach many remote areas in Sorong.
The anti-polio drive coordinator in Irian Jaya, Yusuf, said the helicopters would be used to reach 32 villages scattered in eight districts.
Meanwhile in East Timor, Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares marked the start of the campaign by personally vaccinating one- month-old Dirsia Araujo and Julio dos Santos Pereira at Fatuhada village.
The campaign in East Timor is expected to include 144,720 toddlers from 442 villages.
In West Sumatra, about 514,100 toddlers are being targeted in the drive. Over 5,710 immunization posts have been set up in 2,157 villages throughout West Sumatra, the provincial anti-polio drive coordinator, Hawari Sidik, said.
In Southeast Sulawesi, Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin expressed confidence that every single child would be immunized.
"I am optimistic that no toddler will miss this year's anti- polio campaign," he said as quoted by Antara. He said the provincial government prepared 2,110 immunization posts in 839 villages throughout the province to reach 204,800 toddlers. (09)