Saudi Arabia gives aid for immunization

JAKARTA: The Saudi Arabian government donated Rp 1.95 billion on Tuesday to the city administration to fund hepatitis B immunization for the city's babies.

The financial assistance was handed over by Ambassador Abdullah Hamid Halim to Governor Sutiyoso to coincide with the launch of a hepatitis B immunization program. The ceremony was held in front of the Kampung Melayu subdistrict office in East Jakarta.

Some 21,000 babies who were victims of the recent flood will be the first to obtain immunization out of the 200,000, aged up to 11 months old, according to the City Health Agency.

Immunization is a must for a baby as once it suffers from hepatitis B, it faces possible liver cancer when it reaches adulthood. -- JP