W. Java lacks Rp 2.7b for polio fund

BANDUNG, West Java: The West Java provincial administration is still short Rp 2.7 billion (US$287,000) in funds to carry out its polio immunization program on May 31 and June 27, West Java Governor Danny Setiawan said on Wednesday.

The immunization will cost a total of Rp 24.3 billion, but right now, they only had funds totaling Rp 21.6 billion, said Danny Setiawan.

The antipolio drive was triggered by the discovery of at least eight polio-infected children in Sukabumi and there are fears that the disease will spread, said Danny.

A senior official with the West Java environmental office Fatimah Resmiati said that her office was looking into the possibility of building some 4,000 immunization posts across the province to combat the disease. -- JP