'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)