Quick Action To Control PMK, Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Launches National Disinfection Movement

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo launched a national disinfection movement.

This movement aims to control foot and mouth disease (FMD) in livestock.

As is known, the disease has spread to 19 provinces.

This step was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) supported by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

"I, together with BNPB and PMI, today released the National Disinfection Movement to control PMK that attacks our livestock in 19 provinces. Cooperation with BNPB, PMI and all parties is needed in dealing with epidemic attacks like this," said Minister of Agriculture Syahrul after the Movement Launching event. National Disinfection of PMK at Kanpus Kementan, Jakarta, Thursday, June 30.

Syahrul said the handling of the FMD outbreak that attacked livestock, especially cattle, could spread through direct contact with infected cattle, with tools or goods. It can even spread through the air, so traffic and livestock inspections must be carried out strictly.

"Therefore, through cross-ministerial/institutional synergy with all governors and regents in the field, we believe we can handle PMK well," he said.

Furthermore, according to Syahrul, collaboration in handling PMK makes control efforts more responsive with extradionary steps that are prepared together. Among them with BNPB, PMI, the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Transportation.

"We hope that BNPB will be more aggressive in disseminating the need for medicines and vaccines. God willing, the Ministry of Agriculture and BNPB hope that before Eid al-Qurban, 800,000 doses of vaccine are already in the regions and have been gradually injected per day in the areas we have data on," he said.

On the same occasion, the Head of BNPB, Suharyanto said he was ready to support the Ministry of Agriculture's steps in handling PMK.

BNPB was given the task of strengthening the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to make it run faster in the field.

"It is an honor for BNPB to be able to support the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts in the field and we will carry out this task as much as possible, Mr. Minister to help the Ministry of Agriculture deal with PMK," said Suharyanto.

Suharyanto explained that BNPB would focus on assisting the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts in accordance with the responsibilities given without changing the steps of the Ministry of Agriculture in handling PMK that had been compiled previously.

The Ministry of Agriculture's Strategy is Right

According to Suharyanto, the Ministry of Agriculture's strategy is appropriate in handling PMK, so a team is needed to accelerate the actualization in the field.

"We are very happy to be involved in disinfection activities for livestock farms throughout Indonesia. Hopefully, even though we are limited, we are ready with both manpower and material to make this activity a success," said Suharyanto.

Meanwhile, PMI's Head of Health and Social Services, Sibroh Malisi said PMI is ready to support the government's efforts in handling PMK to remote areas of the country which are spread evenly in 34 provinces.

Furthermore, Subroh said, PMI works with the government so that people continue to feel safe and comfortable, especially in consuming livestock meat.

"We have worked on our experience in handling Covid-19 and we will go down directly to support the Ministry of Agriculture and BNPB in the field," said Sibroh.

For information, the Ministry of Agriculture provided 1.05 million liters of disinfectant and 800,000 syringes, while other assistance was in the form of 203,000 doses of medicine and 2,000 units of handspyer.