TIMESINDONESIA, PROBOLINGGO – The Health Office for Population Control and Family Planning or the P2KB Health Office for Probolinggo City, East Java, has started an immunization program for toddlers aged 2-4 months since last June. The goal is to prevent the risk of acute diarrhea which has the potential to cause stunting and death in infants and children.
Immunization is carried out through the method of giving drops in the mouth. Until now, the immunization program in this area with a population of 243,200 has reached 524 babies and children.
Head of Probolinggo City P2KB Health Office, Nurul Hasanah Hidayati explained, rotavirus is the main cause of diarrheal disease in infants and children. Rotavirus infection causes inflammation of the digestive tract.
Acute diarrhea can result in significant loss of body fluids, and in severe cases it can stunt a child’s growth, potentially leading to stunting.
To overcome this problem, the Government through the P2KB Health Office has implemented a rotavirus immunization program for infants and children. Immunizations are given to babies aged two months, three months and four months, and are carried out at the Puskesmas and Posyandu.
Nurul explained, until now, 524 babies in Probolinggo City have become the target of this immunization program. The first immunization is given to babies who are two months old or born in May 2023.
Rotavirus immunization is given in the form of drops at a dose of 0.5 ml per dose, equivalent to five drops. This immunization program consists of three doses given four weeks apart.
“Rotavirus immunization is part of the national immunization program run by the central government. Its main goal is to prevent severe and prolonged diarrhea in infants, which can lead to stunting and even death,” explained Nurul.
Apart from the immunization program, Nurul also reminded parents to maintain food and environmental hygiene, in order to prevent babies and children from having diarrhea.
“Health education regarding hygiene and sanitation must be instilled from an early age,” he added.
In the records of the P2KB Health Office, cases of diarrhea in toddlers will reach 1,000 cases in 2020. This figure will decrease to 946 cases in 2021, but will rise again to 1,479 cases in 2022.
“For the last three years, Probolinggo City has managed to avoid cases of under-five deaths due to diarrhea. Hopefully this effort will continue to be successful,” he added.
herald
: Sri Hartini
Editor: Muhammad Iqbal
2023-08-23 00:31:51
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