Health Minister Budi Gunadi Unveils Government’s Strategy for Tackling Mpox Outbreak

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.TV – The government continues to strengthen measures to treat the monkey pox virus (Mpox) in the country, especially ahead of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin revealed that several strategies and policies have been prepared to prevent the spread of this virus, including the reactivation of an electronic monitoring system similar to the PeduliLindungi application.

“We will implement it again electronic surveillance cardremember first Protective Care. So people who come from abroad are filled in, and then get a QR code, if it’s yellow, green, red, if it’s green there’s no need to do anything, if it’s yellow-red we will check the temperature, if it turned out to be high and there is a rash – PCR will be taken later,” said Health Minister Budi after attending a Limited Meeting at Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (27/8/2024) quoted from the Cabinet Secretariat website.

This measure was taken as an effort by the government to ensure that the Mpox virus does not spread among the increasing number of international arrivals, especially during the implementation of the IAF.

Budi Gunadi said that his party has prepared PCR machines in Jakarta and Bali that are able to produce results in 30-40 minutes.

“So if we identify someone who arrived in Africa, who has a high temperature, we will take him immediately, and in a short time we will see if he is positive or not. “If he is positive, he will be isolated in the hospital immediately because we have prepared anti-virus medicines,” he explained.

The Minister of Health also revealed that the government had introduced 1,000 doses of vaccine in 2022 as a first step to deal with the spread of the Mpox virus.

Of this amount, approximately 40 doses will be sent to Bali to vaccinate high-risk groups, including laboratory workers and health workers.

In addition, the government has also ordered an additional 1,600 doses of vaccine from Denmark which are expected to arrive this week.

“We have prepared all the hospitals in Bali-Jakarta. “We have prepared, the medicines have been put there, because of our experience, if you get it, you will get back 100 percent,” he said.

In addition, the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi also invited media teams to participate in providing education to the public.

Read also: President Jokowi Instructions, Beware of Mpox Ahead of Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali