INDONESIA SHOULD MAKE ALL-OUT EFFORTS TO ERADICATE MEASLES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 2 (Antara) - Measles and rubella are life-threatening conditions, as they are highly contagious viral diseases that can prove fatal for those affected, particularly children, or also adults.          To this end, Indonesia is determined to eradicate the diseases by 2020.          "I fully support the national campaign on immunization to protect children from measles and rubella," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated during the launch of a national campaign on Measles and Rubella Immunization at a function in Sleman, Yogyakarta, last August.          Through the program, the Indonesian government has set a target to administer measles and rubella vaccination to 95 percent of the children in at least 28 provinces across the country.          Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO), the technical agency responsible for coordination of immunization and surveillance activities, has chalked out a global action plan through which the organization has targeted to eliminate measles and rubella in five WHO regions by 2020.          Hence, President Jokowi has expressed hope that Indonesia will be free from the contagious diseases by 2020.