Maluku needs Rp 1.5b to fight rabies

Maluku needs Rp 1.5b to fight rabies

AMBON, Maluku: Maluku Provincial Health Office needs a staggering
Rp 1.473 billion in funds (US$172,941) next year, to overcome the
rabies epidemic plaguing Ambon municipality and Seram Island in
the province, an official said on Saturday.

Ristianto Sugiono, the head of Maluku Provincial Health
Office, said that the funds would be used to campaign against
rabies (Rp 55 million), rabies vaccines (Rp 1.2 billion),
miscellaneous materials (Rp 40 million), training for medical
staff (Rp 75 million), meals for regular meetings held by 80
officials at the health office (Rp 4 million), rabies case
investigation (Rp 39 million) and technical assistance (Rp 60
million).

Ristianto has proposed that the Maluku provincial
administration set aside funds to overcome the epidemic, but a
response has not yet been given.

Rabies first broke out in Maluku in April this year and the
epidemic has already claimed 19 lives. The first death was
reported by Lateri community health center in Ambon.

Data provided by the Maluku Provincial Health Office shows
that, up until Sept. 31, 1,097 people had been bitten by dogs in
Maluku province this year. -- Antara