Sujudi launches latest anti-polio drive

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)