Australia helps stop Polio spread in Indonesia

May 10 2005

Australia has responded quickly and generously with a $1 million contribution to help prevent the spread of an outbreak of polio in the Indonesian Province of West Java, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Bruce Billson, announced recently.

'More than 5.2 million Indonesian children living in the provinces near the original outbreak and now at risk of infection will receive the polio vaccine with the support of Australian Government funding,' Mr Billson said

'Australia's contribution, through AusAID, will support World Health Organisation (WHO) operational costs of administering the vaccine and we are also working closely with the Indonesian Government and UNICEF to respond to the outbreak.

'Australian assistance will meet around half the anticipated costs of the immunisation campaign and our expertise in mass immunisation logistics has also been offered to WHO in Jakarta,' Mr Billson said.

'This is the first confirmed polio case in Indonesia since 1995 and through the quick action of Indonesian, WHO and UNICEF officials, children in four villages near the outbreak have already been vaccinated against the disease.

'Further immunisation campaigns across the provinces of West Java, Banten and metropolitan Jakarta will now take place over the next two months,' Mr Billson said.

Australia has supported immunisation campaigns in Indonesia for many years. Since 1995, over $2.5 million has been contributed to the mass vaccination of children in various Indonesian provinces. The campaigns have included polio and measles vaccination together with Vitamin A supplementation.

'I urge all Australians travelling to Indonesia, especially those with young children, to ensure that their polio immunisations are up to date,' Mr Billson said.

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/