Sujudi launches latest anti-polio drive
SERANG, West Java (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi launched the first phase of the second national anti-polio drive yesterday, which aims to immunize 21.8 million Indonesian children below the age of five.
"We hope all Indonesian children will be free from polio by the year 2000," Sujudi said before dispensing two drops of the vaccine into the mouth of Ratnasari, the fourth winner in a West Java baby contest, in Kramat Watu district, Serang regency.
The visiting Netherlands Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports E. Borst-Eilers, West Java Governor R. Nuriana and Serang Regent Sukron Roshadi then took turns vaccinating other children.
While the ceremony was in progress, the campaign was also beginning at 275,000 immunization posts across the country. The posts have been established in every neighborhood, public health center, hospital, school, bus terminal, airport, railway station and harbor.
In Jakarta, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja started the drive by vaccinating President Soeharto's granddaughter, Danvy Sekartaji Rukmana, in his residence on Jl. Taman Suropati 7 in Central Jakarta.
At a shopping center in the Senen business district in Central Jakarta, immunization personnel went from kiosk to kiosk to provide vaccines for the children of shoppers and traders alike.
"All targeted children in Java and Bali will be immunized within a day, while in remote areas, the immunization posts will be open until Sept. 12," Sujudi told thousands of fathers and mothers with their children.
Yesterday, Sujudi came to the Kramat Watu field for the launching ceremony, greeted by traditional dancers wearing yellow dresses and parents and children, also in yellow. Even banners, balloons and signs announcing the drive were yellow.
Among those present at the launching ceremony were chairperson of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) Mrs. Moch. Yogie S.M, the United Nations Children's Fund representative Stephen J. Woodhouse and the World Health Organization representative Robert J. Kim-Farley.
The Netherlands Ambassador for Indonesia, P.R. Brouwer, Rotary of the Netherlands representative H.K.A. Fisser and Abidin, the chairman of the Polio-Plus National Program for Rotary Indonesia, were also on hand.
Sujudi revealed that West Java was chosen as the site for the launching due to the highest number of under-five children there, while Serang regency was chosen because of its high maternal and infant mortality rates.
The three-day campaign involves one million people -- recruited mostly from among PKK members, social organizations, the scouts and teachers -- to administer the 60 million doses of the vaccine.
The vaccine was produced by the state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Biofarma in Bandung, which has exported products to other countries.
The scene at the launching site was lively, with Sujudi busily trying to comfort children who cried and refused to swallow the vaccine.
Yesterday, Sujudi also urged the parents to ensure that their children participate in the second phase on Oct. 15. "Children's immunity will still be low after the first round of vaccinations and parents should ensure their participation in the second phase," he said.
Director General of Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Health Hadi M. Abednego said that children under five should participate in the entire three-year program.
The last campaign will be conducted next year, with the aim of completely eradicating polio in Indonesia before 2000.
This year's anti-polio drive costs Rp 52.5 billion (US$22,3 million), while last year's drive amounted to Rp 55 billion. (31)