VACCINATION CAMPAIGN TO FREE INDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM MEASLES, RUBELLA by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 2, 2017 (Antara) - The Indonesian Government has demonstrated a strong political will by launching a measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to achieve an ambitious goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2020.

         The campaign has been launched in accordance with WHO's Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan, 2012-2020.

         The two-month national campaign was officially kicked off by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at a function held in Islamic Junior High School 10 in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Aug 1, 2017.

        The Head of State expressed his hope that Indonesia would be free of rubella and measles by 2020.

        "I fully support the national campaign on immunization to protect the children from measles and rubella," Jokowi stated.

        The function was attended by First Lady Iriana, Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Development Puan Maharani, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Special Presidential Staff Staff Johan Budi SP, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubowono X, and Sleman District Head Sri Purnomo.

        According to him, immunization is crucial for children's health as it could prevent deadly diseases.

        "That is the responsibility of parents and also the state," he noted.

        In Indonesia, less than one percent of children have received measles and rubella immunization, while ideally it should be more than 95 percent, he noted.

        The government has a strong commitment to eliminate measles and control rubella and to make the country free of measles and rubella by 2020, he affirmed.

         Working to eliminate measles and rubella can help strengthen health systems in general and immunization systems in particular.

         As a strategy, the government will provide immunization to children between nine months old and 15 years old.   
    The National MR Immunization campaign is being carried out from August to September 2017 across Java Island.

         Next year, vaccinations will be administered in areas outside Java, also during the period of Aug-Sept.

        This year, some 3,579 public health centers in six provinces on Java Island will conduct vaccinations, targeting 34.96 million children.

        The MR vaccination campaign will be conducted in two stages, with the first stage focusing on students of elementary schools and junior high schools, which is taking place in August, in various schools.

         The second stage will be conducted in Sept 2017 and will focus on infants aged nine months and above. It will mostly be implemented in integrated health posts, community health centers, and hospitals.

         Indonesian Health Minister Nila Moeloek explained that the government has targeted to reach a minimum 95 percent coverage with regard to the immunization program.

         "Parents should support the mass immunization campaign against measles and rubella," the minister remarked.

         Based on provisions on the edict of the Indonesian Ulema Council No. 4 of 2016, vaccination is allowed, as it is related to human life, and it is an effort to save and protect children.

         Immunization can be mandatory, as those not vaccinated can die or suffer from serious illnesses or permanent disability.

         In  Bekasi City in West Java Province, a  total of 658,563 children will receive measles and rubella (MR) vaccination in August and September this year.

        The vaccination will be administered at 1,700 integrated health posts and hospitals in 56 urban villages in 12 sub-districts, Kusnanto Saidi, head of the Bekasi city health office, stated.  
   He urged parents to support the administration of MR vaccines, as they are distributed by the Healthy Ministry and guaranteed as halal, or permissible according to the Islamic law, by the Indonesian Ulema Council.

        In Bogor, also West Java Province, the local Social Affairs office has planned to give MR vaccination to 100 street children, in addition to 257,276 others to be immunized.

         "In accordance with an instruction by Bogor Mayor (Bima Arya), the MR vaccination campaign in Bogor is expected to cover every child in the city, including street children," Azein Syamsudin, head of the Bogor Social Affairs office, said.

         The vaccination campaign is being carried out jointly by the Social Affairs office and the Health office of Bogor Municipality.

          Rubaeah, head of the Bogor Health Office, said the vaccination will be given to a total of 257,276 children aged between nine months and 15 years in the city.

          "We have set up 1,715 vaccination posts, including 975 in Posyandu, 286 in kindergartens, 319 in elementary schools, and 135 in junior high schools," he said.  
     Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air.

         The virus infects the respiratory tract , then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.

         In 2015, there were 134 200 measles deaths globally - about 367 deaths every day or 15 deaths every hour.

          During 2000-2015, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 20.3 million deaths making measles vaccine one of the best buys in public health.

          Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults. Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Worldwide, over 100 000 babies are born with CRS every year.

         There is no specific treatment for rubella but the disease is preventable by vaccination.    ***4***
(f001/INE)
Edited by INE
(T.F001/A/F. Assegaf/F. Assegaf) 02-08-2017