Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health) stated that they are still waiting for the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to use the first malaria vaccine in Indonesia. Currently, the WHO has only recommended malaria vaccine that’s for sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, the vaccine was only used in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
“This is still a trial, so we are still waiting. Currently the government is also continuing to carry out activities to reduce positive cases of malaria,” said the Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Didik Budijanto, contacted by CNNIndonesia.com, Friday (8/8). 10).
Didik welcomed the expansion of the use of the world’s first malaria vaccine. This vaccine is said to help control the spread of malaria, which is transmitted through mosquitoes.
Currently in Indonesia, malaria control continues to be intensified. The trend of malaria is now decreasing.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, as of 2020, positive cases of malaria have decreased by 235.7 thousand. The number of cases is reduced by 50 percent compared to 2010 which reached 465.7 thousand.
“At least, with a vaccine, we can add one point to the intervention tool,” said Didik.
Didik said that if the malaria vaccine could be used in Indonesia, it would most likely be distributed to areas with high transmission rates, such as Papua.
“Given for areas with high distribution. Especially in Indonesia, it is in Papua. Because 86 percent of the national malaria cases come from Papua,” said Didik.
The Ministry of Health, said Didik, has made various efforts to control the spread of malaria. For example, introducing the use of mosquito nets on the bed, installing wire netting, not hanging used clothes in the room or room, using mosquito repellent to spread larvae-eating fish in ponds around the house.
“This program is also still running in Papua and other areas that have a high potential for malaria transmission,” said Didik.
(tst/ptj)
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