Oblivious to the flu

Oblivious to the flu

Indonesians come across as being a laid back lot. Their warm
smiles and patient manner seem incongruous to the harsh realities
they face.

This mildness makes them lackadaisical, so much so that many
are oblivious to fears that an outbreak here could put them at
the center of one of the worst multi-country pandemics in half a
century.

This country has been warned. And again, earlier this week, a
visiting United Nations team on the bird flu sent the strongest
message yet: This country is simply not taking the necessary
precautions to combat a major outbreak of avian influenza.

Of all the countries in the world, Indonesia should be the one
most aware of the acute dangers lying in wait. Of the 63 people
killed by the H5N1 virus in Southeast Asia since 2003, five have
been in Indonesia. At least nine confirmed cases of human
infection have been reported here.

The comments of the head of the UN team visiting Indonesia,
Peter Roeder, confirm the extent of this nation's capricious
approach toward the virus.

"It's not taken seriously enough by the people of this
country," he said.

His remarks reflect the extent of cognizance most Indonesians
have of bird flu.

Most are unaware, disinterested or content to brush off the
potential dangers of a human influenza pandemic.

Many still perceive it in the context of just another seasonal
disease that will quietly pass. The attitude of some reminds us
of the early days of HIV/AIDS, when people simply believed they
could never be infected. Meanwhile, those who are informed are
unsure what to do.

It took many years of hard work, concerted efforts and intense
campaigning before public awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention
was achieved. A similar crusade is now needed to educate, inform
and collectively combat avian influenza.

If it does come, at the very least the collective psyche of
this nation would be prepared with the necessary technical
precautions and social conditioning. As it is, some of those who
are infected, along with their immediate family, are being
treated like lepers in the dark ages -- with prejudice and exile
-- by an ignorant public.

It is however also important to note the second part of
Roeder's comments: "They (the public) are not aware of how
serious the situation is".

Inattentiveness toward the dangers of bird flu can, for the
most part, be blamed on the government's own intermittent and
partial effort to cope with the virus' presence here.

Just as migratory birds circle the world according to the
seasons, likewise the government's campaign moves in stops and
starts.

If the public could be made aware of, through intensive
advertising, about who their candidates and their running mate's
were in the presidential campaigns, then a similar campaign can
be conducted to educate the public on the dangers of bird flu,
before it is too late.

Governments and institutions around the world are gripped with
this problem, but here in Jakarta we have not, we dare to assume,
spent a comparative amount on public information about bird flu
as the advertising billions in the presidential campaigns of
2004.

One example of how narrow this government's vision is in
averting the potential epidemic is the absence of a compensation
strategy should mass culling be required. Such actions have been
considered and talked about for months, but action plans have not
been put in place. It is even questionable whether a detailed
comprehensive one actually exists to deter further outbreaks.

Countries like the United States, for example, have clearly
earmarked funds and drafted contingency plans to avert the
possibility of an outbreak.

Jakarta's response has been the classic "lack of resources" or
"no funds available".

Our answer to that is: "Get some!"

Resources can be committed when there is a political will to
do so. Funding and assistance will flow if the government clearly
displays coherent action to contain the spread of the disease.

Bird flu is becoming a global threat. A successful prevention
campaign in a country like Indonesia is in the interests of the
world. We are confident that help will be forthcoming from
international donors if we start by helping ourselves.

They say there is no such thing as being "too late" to begin
an endeavor in life. Unfortunately with bird flu that adage does
not apply. Let us begin before it is really too late.