Pangkajene Islands, 15 August 2023 – Diarrhea is still a public health problem in the world, including Indonesia. Indonesia’s 2020 Health Profile data shows that diarrhea is the second leading cause of death after pneumonia in infants aged 29 days – 11 months, namely 9.8% and in the group of toddlers aged 12-59 months, amounting to 4.5% of total deaths. According to data source Indonesia Rotavirus Surveillance Network 2001-2017, Rotavirus is the main cause of severe diarrhea in toddlers, which is around 41% to 58% of the total cases of diarrhea in toddlers who are hospitalized. Apart from causing morbidity and death, diarrhea will also hamper the growth and development of a child because it can cause stunting. Micro substances needed by the child’s body to grow are lost due to repeated diarrheal infections. The 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) data also shows a high prevalence of diarrhea in toddlers, reaching 9.8%.
Various attempts have been made to overcome this problem of diarrhea, including through improving environmental hygiene and sanitation and handling cases of diarrhea with ORS and zinc, but have not yielded optimal results. Efforts to control diarrhea will be better if added to prevention through Rotavirus (RV) immunization, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Immunization Expert Advisory Committee (ITAGI).
In order to achieve the SDGs 2030 target, the Government of Indonesia is highly committed to protecting all people from morbidity, disability and death from dangerous diseases that can be prevented by immunization, one of which is by adding new antigen immunizations to the national immunization program. The four types of vaccines are the Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) to prevent pneumonia (pneumonia) which has been expanded throughout Indonesia since September 2022, Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine the second dose (IPV2) to strengthen protection against polio which has been implemented nationally starting last June 2023, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer which has also been expanded throughout Indonesia on 9 August 2023 last week and today RV immunization to prevent severe diarrhea in infants will also be implemented nationally.
Today, the Deputy Minister of Health announced the expansion of RV immunization nationally in Pangkajene Islands, South Sulawesi Province which was attended by the Governor of South Sulawesi Province and all levels of the Regional Government of South Sulawesi Province, the Regent of Pangkajene Islands and all levels of the Regional Government of Pangkajene Islands Regency, representatives across sectors from the Coordinating Ministry for PMK, Ministry of Home Affairs and Bappenas, representatives from professional organizations, religious organizations and community organizations, representatives of international health development partners namely WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and CHAI and the community in Pangkajene Islands, South Sulawesi. The activity then continued with a review of the implementation of RV immunization at the declaration site, namely at the Pangkajene Islands District Head Office.
RV immunization in Indonesia will be carried out in stages starting in 2022 in 21 high-risk districts/cities in 18 provinces and this year it will be expanded to all provinces and districts/cities. RV immunization is given in three doses starting at 2 months of age and a maximum of 6 months of age with a minimum gap of four weeks between doses. RV immunization must be given on time to provide the earliest possible protection for infants from the dangers of severe diarrhea caused by Rotavirus.
The success of administering new antigen immunizations and other routine immunizations really requires the active role of the Regional Government, related cross-sectors, health development partners and all levels of society. Together, we support the acceleration of health transformation in order to achieve high and equitable immunization coverage so that we can further strengthen the immunization program and the national health system.
“The national expansion of RV immunization is a major step towards reducing the high incidence of diarrheal disease caused by rotavirus infection in children in Indonesia,” said Maniza Zaman, UNICEF Indonesia Representative. “Starting with the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in 18 provinces by 2022, this year UNICEF and development partners are dedicated to the greater responsibility of protecting 4.3 million children under one year of age with this important RV immunization.”
“WHO Indonesia appreciates and will continue to support the Indonesian government in its steps to launch Rotavirus immunization nationally. All vaccines that have received WHO prequalification, including vaccines used in Indonesia’s national immunization program, are safe and effective. WHO Indonesia encourages all Indonesian children to get Rotavirus immunization as soon as possible according to their age,” said Dr. N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative for Indonesia. “This step needs to be taken in tandem with other efforts to prevent diarrhea in children, such as exclusive breastfeeding support for 6 months followed by breastfeeding for up to 2 years, a clean and healthy lifestyle (PHBS), and early treatment with ORS and zinc tablets.”
Let’s protect Indonesian children from the dangers of diseases that can be prevented by immunization (PD3I), one of which is severe diarrhea due to Rotavirus so that Indonesia can have a golden generation that is healthy, tough, smart and strong.
This news was broadcast by the Bureau of Communication and Public Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. For further information, please contact Halo Kemkes via hotline number 1500-567, SMS 081281562620, facsimile (021) 5223002, 52921669, and email address contact@kemkes.go.id. (myg)
Head of Communication and Community Service Bureau
dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, M. Epid
2023-08-15 03:25:30
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