Padang ready for mass immunization

PADANG, West Sumatra: The provincial health authorities will immunize more than 507,000 children under five-years old against polio.

The drive will start in September, coinciding with the launching of the National Immunization Campaign by President Soeharto, the Antara news agency reported yesterday.

A total of 21 million children from all over Indonesia will be included in the immunization drive.

Head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Health Dr. Firdaus Bahauddin said the project will involve 10,000 health personnel from across the province.

Firdaus also said that the drive will be repeated in 1996 and 1997. A budget of Rp 500 million (US$ 227,000) has been allocated by the government to fund the project. (swe)