'Si Doel' named as Unicef ambassador

'Si Doel' named as Unicef ambassador

JAKARTA (JP): Actor and director Rano Karno was declared
Indonesia's first national ambassador for the United Nations
Children's Fund (Unicef) yesterday.

Rano, 38, a member of the People's Consultative Assembly,
received the honorary title from Coordinating Minister of
People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono.

Recognized largely by Indonesians for his highly rated TV
drama Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel the College Kid), the actor
wept during his acceptance speech.

"I have officially become a servant of the people," the
president director of Karnos Film said.

Unicef chief representative for Indonesia Stephen J.
Woodhouse said Rano's task would be to help increase awareness on
children's health. Unicef also focuses on the welfare of pregnant
women, both in remote villages and in urban areas.

Indonesia has the highest maternal mortality rate and
mortality rate of children under five in Southeast Asia.

Woodhouse said Indonesia's mortality rate of children under
five was 80 per 1,000 live births.

He said Rano's selection as national Unicef representative was
mainly because of his role in the national anti-polio drive
through television commercials. Characters of Si Doel were
depicted in the commercials.

"Si Doel has played a critical role in immunizing all children
against polio over the last three years," Woodhouse said.

Woodhouse said that during his travels across the country,
mothers have told him what "really encouraged them" to get their
children immunized was Si Doel and his family.

Woodhouse further said that there would also be greater focus
on encouraging husbands to give "utmost attention to wives during
pregnancy".

"In villages, I still see pregnant women with huge stomachs
drawing pails of water, carrying them and carrying several heavy
things," Woodhouse said.

"Husbands eat good food and wives eat less. No nutrition. They
should be educated on prevention rather than emergency cures
which are rare."

Unicef is the leading development agency working for the
interest of children in over 140 countries worldwide.

Advocating the protection of children's rights with
governments and civil societies, its global income in 1996
totaled US$944 million, with 64 percent from government funds and
36 percent from non-governmental funds. (ylt)