188,659 Children In Papua Become The Target Of Polio Immunization

Illustration of vaccination (ANTARA)

JAYAPURA - The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Papua through the local Health Service (Dinkes) targeted 188,659 children aged 0-7 years to get immunizations at the National Immunization Week (PIN) Polio which will be held starting May 27, 2024. Papua Health Director Aaron Rumainum said PIN Polio would be carried out for the next four months. For this reason, it is hoped that all elements will participate in the success of such immunization. "We are optimistic that 188,659 children will immunize because this is a basic right that must be obtained by every child in Papua," said Aaron, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 24. Based on data from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), he said, polio disease has been found in three New Autonomy Regions (DOB) namely Papua Province, Mountains in Nduga Regency, South Papua Province in Asmat, and Central Papua Province in Timika. "We will aggressively socialize PIN Polio to the community so that there are no polio cases in Papua Province and this is also one of the prevention efforts carried out by the government," he said. He explained for the highest number of targets and allocations of PIN Polio 2024 in Papua Province, namely Jayapura City 66,163 children, then Jayapura Regency with a target of 34,800 children, Biak Numfor as many as 24,932 children, Yapen Islands 21,574 children, Keerom 12,597 children, Sarmi 8,164 children, Mamberamo Raya 7,654 children, Waropen 7,510 children, and Supiori 5.265 children. "We expect the participation of the community, religious leaders, women, youth and all parties so that it can increase polio coverage," he said. Meanwhile, UNICEF Papua Representative Aminuddin M Ramdan said immunization is the basic right of children and involves the participation of the family, especially parents and the surrounding environment.

"This immunization is important for increasing immunization coverage, especially if you look at the Extraordinary Events (KLB) of a number of diseases in recent years in Papua," he said. In the Polio PIN process, he continued, UNICEF provided technical assistance to local governments in Papua to carry out policies optimally.