Indonesia gears for mass COVID-19 immunization by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 29, 2020 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is carrying out simulations to ensure the smooth implementation of its mass COVID-19 immunization program, which is expected to start at the end of this year.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) paid a visit to Bogor, West Java on November 18, 2020 to review a vaccine simulation at a community health center (puskesmas). The next day, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin observed a similar simulation at a Bekasi puskesmas.

The simulations were carried out under strict observance of COVID-19 health protocols, such as maintaining distancing, washing hands, and wearing face masks.

The government is keen to begin its vaccination program in the third week of December, 2020. Over the past few months, it has been proactive in procuring COVID-19 vaccines from various sources through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The University of Pandjajaran and state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma have been carrying out the final stage clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine developed by China since August, and so far, the testing has run relatively smoothly.

Meanwhile, President Widodo has said he is optimistic that COVID-19 vaccines would arrive in late November or December this year. They could be in the form of finished vaccines or raw materials to be processed at Bio Farma in Bandung.

He emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccination program must prioritize the safety and security of people.

Hence, all vaccines that are administered must be registered on the vaccine list of the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccines are being purchased from companies, whose brands are registered with the WHO, he informed.

"I did not mention the brands, but they must be on the WHO list," he stated.

The government has signed an agreement to procure a total of 143 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine concentrate from three Chinese pharmaceutical firms — Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, who will provide 65 million, 15 million, and 20 million doses of the vaccine concentrate, respectively.

In addition to China, Indonesia has also sought vaccines from United Arab Emirates (UAE) technology firm G-24, which agreed to send 10 million doses of its vaccine in mid-August through cooperation with state-run pharmaceutical firm PT Kimia Farma.

Indonesia has also procured 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, with the first delivery of the vaccine scheduled in the second quarter of 2021.

After the vaccines arrive in Indonesia, they will undergo several stages of clearance at the Indonesian Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) prior to being
allowed for use. Only after the BPOM clears them will they be used in the immunization program.

Jokowi spoke of his intention to again observe one or two other simulations to ensure that all aspects concerning the vaccination program are being thoroughly prepared.

The COVID-19 vaccination simulation is part of the government's endeavors to acclimatize the public to the COVID-19 vaccination plan and to offer a broad understanding of the importance of vaccine administration to break the chain of COVID-19 to end the pandemic.

PESANTREN EMERGE AS LYNCHPIN OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 22/11/2020 (ANTARA) - Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, have not only managed to survive in Indonesia since colonial times, but have also assumed a strategic role in national development and economic empowerment, particularly at the grassroots level.

Indonesia has 28,961 pesantren catering to at least 18.5 million students, or santri, and employing about 1.5 million teachers, who are helping shape the future human resources of the nation.

On the occasion of National Santri Day on October 22, 2020, Vice President Maruf Amin urged santris to play an active role in developing the economy.

He said he hoped that pesantren would not only become hubs for producing Muslim clerics, but also centers for economic empowerment.

Amin lauded several community economic programs initiated in cooperation with pesantren, such as the establishment of convenience stores, cooperatives for santri, and the development of a business incubation center for Islamic boarding school students and a mobile apps service.

More collaborations must be done between the Islamic boarding school students and industry players to bring prosperity to the people, he remarked.

Pesantren, as the center of the preaching of Islam, must be made relevant and match the current pace of progress by using digital technology to reach a wider audience, Amin advised.

The government has committed to funding 209,449 Islamic boarding schools and institutions by allocating Rp2.6 trillion ($1.7 billion) in 34 provinces for the 2020-2024 period. The funds are meant to support online learning, operational costs, and healthcare programs for COVID-19 handling in Islamic boarding schools, among other things.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati recently confirmed the government's allocation of Rp2.6 trillion for pesantren and religious education amid the COVID-19 pandemic through the pesantren economic recovery program.

BALANCING INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH WITH CONSERVATION IN LABUAN BAJO by Fardah

Jakarta, 22/11, 2020 (ANTARA) - Infrastructure and facilities are being installed in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, as part of efforts to turn it into a super premium destination that will host world leaders besides the well-heeled.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who visited Labuan Bajo in January and October this year, has designated it as one of the 10 top priority tourist destinations, tagged Beyond Bali, along with Borobudur in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara.

Indonesia is scheduled to take over the presidency of the G20 and the chairmanship of ASEAN, and the government is intent on preparing Labuan Bajo as the venue for the G20 Summit and the ASEAN Summit in 2023.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio has urged hotels and restaurants in Labuan Bajo to implement health protocols based on Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) standards.

The CHSE certification is crucial for the tourism industry, particularly hotels and restaurants, to reclaim tourist confidence.

"This is aimed at offering a sense of security and comfort to tourists when they visit a destination that applies the health protocols. This certification has been aligned with world tourism organizations, such as the UNWTO and CTTI, as well as the Health Ministry," Kusubandio explained.

With construction in progress, the Komodo National Park has temporarily shut down the Loh Buaya tourist resort, which is situated within the Komodo National Park. The area has facilities for tourists, including cottages, a cafeteria, a shelter, and trails, and has become a popular location to observe wildlife.

It was deemed necessary to temporarily close Loh Buaya to enable the process of rearrangement of the natural tourism facilities and infrastructure on the island, a task that has been entrusted to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, head of the Komodo National Park, Lukita Awang Nistyantara, explained on November 15, 2020.

Furthermore, the tourist resort has been temporarily closed from October 26, 2020 to June 30, 2021 for improving services and ensuring the safety of tourists, Nistyantara remarked.

Indonesia aims to turn into global halal hub by 2024 by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 20, 2020 (ANTARA) - The future market potential for halal products is huge as the Muslim population is growing, including in Europe and America, and is projected to cross 2.2 billion by 2030, according to observers.

 

The global halal market has reached US$1,294.5 million in 2020 and is expected to touch US$1,911.3 million by the end of 2026, reflecting a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.7 percent for the 2021-2026 period, according to Global ‘Halal Market’ 2020 Research Report, released last August.

 

The global halal food market was valued at US$1,140 million in 2018 and is estimated to reach US$1,590 million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.3 percent in the 2019-2025 period.

 

Brazil, Australia, Japan, North America, and China are among the main halal product producers in the world. But, Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority country and the fourth most populous nation in the world, is yet to exploit the potential of the halal business.

 

In 2019, Brazil’s halal product exports were valued at US$5.5 billion and Australia's at US$2.4 billion, Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said recently, referring to data from the 2019 Global Islamic Economic Report.

 

A professor of Islamic economic law, Amin has set his sights on transforming Indonesia into a global halal product hub by 2024.

 

"We must be able to exploit the potential of the world's halal market by increasing our exports, which currently only account for 3.8 percent of the global halal market," he noted.

 

In 2018, the global demand for halal products stood at US$2.2 trillion, and it is projected to touch US$3.2 trillion by 2024. Amin is hopeful of Indonesia’s chances of emerging as the largest halal producer in the world.

Indonesia aiming for COVID-19 immunization in Dec end by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 17, 2020 - Over the past few months, the Indonesian government has been proactive in procuring COVID-19 vaccines from various sources as it believes that when the people are healthy, the economy will also be sound.

During a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the plan for procurement and implementation of immunization at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on October 26, 2020, President Joko Widodo called on his rank and file to not delay the completion of the timeline for vaccination by being heedful of several supporting factors.

He ordered officials to immediately formulate a region-wise vaccination plan and map out individuals who need to be vaccinated, including those who will be vaccinated for free and those who will pay for it.

"Everything must be planned and prepared in detail," the President emphasized.

The head of state also called for training and simulations, both for health workers and security personnel, and even volunteers who would later be involved in administering vaccines.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, disclosed that the COVID-19 vaccination program would likely start in the third week of December, 2020.

The initial vaccination program will target about nine million people, including healthcare workers and law enforcement officials, in Jakarta and Bali, among others.

"We are keen to see Bali become a green zone [with low risk of COVID-19 transmission], which is our target. We are optimistic of Bali becoming a green zone at the start of next year, as we will commence vaccinations in the third week of December," Pandjaitan remarked.

While the vaccination plan is under way, the Task Force for COVID-19 Response said it has ensured the country’s stocks of COVID-19 medications are sufficient and will last till December this year.

LEMPENG PISANG

               

Bahan :
10buah pisang masak
8 atau 10 sdm tepung terigu
1butir telur ayam
100g kelapa parut
50ml santan kental (me: skip)
2sdm gulapasir
1sdt garam
Mentega (minyak) secukupnya

Cara memasak :
Hancurkan pisang atau potong kecil-kecil (tidak perlu sampai hancur)
Masukkan telur, tepung terigu, gula dan garam, aduk rata. Tambahkan kelapa parut sambil di aduk-aduk hingga tercampur rata, adonan akhir cenderung kental.
Panaskan wajan anti lengket (teflon) yang sudah dioles mentega, dengan api kecil.
Tuang adonan pisang, ratakan. Tunggu hingga matang (seperti gosong) lalu balik dan tunggu hingga kedua sisinya matang sempurna. Sajikan selagi hangat