Donate IDR 30 Billion Vaccine To Nigeria, Sri Mulyani: From Indonesia To The World

Photo: Ministry Of Finance Documents

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has officially sent pentavalent vaccine donations worth a total of IDR 30.3 billion to Nigerians. The aid was delivered in two stages, the first at the end of this month as many as 730,000 doses of vaccine, and the rest will be delivered in the next stage.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said this vaccine assistance was urgently needed by Nigerians who had been experiencing difficulties in getting vaccines for domestic needs.

"Through the International Development Cooperation Fund Institute (LDKPI), the Indonesian government has consistently implemented diplomacy to participate in maintaining world peace and order based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice," he said in a written statement quoted Monday, May 29.

According to the Minister of Finance, the delivery of the vaccine to Nigeria is the first step of various programs through LDKPI from the results of the endorsement fund which has been allocated IDR 8 trillion.

"This is also a soft diplomacy carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or related agencies," he said.

On the same occasion, LDKPI President Director Tormarbulang Lumbantobing said Indonesia was not only providing grant assistance, but also a mission to support economic progress.

"We encourage trade, open up expansion of the international market for domestic business actors and open up investment opportunities," he said.

For information, the pentavident vaccine with the Pentabio trademark is projected not only to be distributed, but also to be produced in Nigeria by establishing partnerships and technology transfers with local companies.

The Pentavalen vaccine itself is a combination vaccine DTP-HB-Hib which helps prevent 5 (five) kinds of diseases at once, namely: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

Meanwhile, Nigeria is the country with the most populous and most populous population on the African continent. With a total population of 211 million people, the birth rate reaches 7.7 million babies per year.

Sadly, the country's mandatory immunization coverage is still below average. Under-middle-income countries (Low Middle-Income Country) in Africa, including Nigeria, are having difficulty getting access to vaccines.

This is due to the high price and high cost of production and development. Until now, countries in Africa still depend on the procurement of vaccines from UNICEF, Covax Facility and other countries' assistance.