|
American Red Cross Fights Polio in Indonesia
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, December 13, 2005 — Ten years after being declared polio free, Indonesia has seen the reemergence of this highly infectious but preventable disease. In response, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate the disease that has infected more than 200 people since January of this year. This campaign is supported by the American Red Cross and its partners, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Foundation, Rotary International and the Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia). Other participants include local communities, government and human service agencies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
On November 30, 2005, the third round of the national polio vaccination campaign concluded. It was the largest campaign ever undertaken in Indonesia to abolish polio and it aimed to reach more than 24 million children under the age of five. Through this campaign, the Red Cross and its partners organized a social mobilization effort to encourage parents to bring their children to health clinics and receive an oral vaccination. In the coming days, health representatives from the organizations will travel from house to house, seeking children who may not have received a vaccination.
Ricardo Caivano, senior country representative for the American Red Cross in Indonesia said, “We do this for a very simple reason: vaccinations are the single most effective action we can take to protect people against the spread of this disease.”
The polio vaccination campaign is only part of the many efforts by the American Red Cross to assist survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which struck more than a dozen countries in December of 2004. Disease control and prevention is a core international service of the American Red Cross and one of the most important challenges following a disaster. The crowded and unsanitary living conditions that sometimes persist after a disaster can make people more susceptible to contagious diseases.
In addition to polio vaccinations, the American Red Cross and its partners have also conducted a measles campaign in Indonesia and other tsunami-affected countries in Africa and Asia. Other interventions by the American Red Cross that have helped stave off major spread of disease include the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria; and projects that provided clean water following the tsunami.
The Red Cross is committed to reaching the most vulnerable people affected by the tsunami and other disasters. Through the generosity of donors, the American Red Cross and its partners have been able to protect millions of children threatened by polio and other preventable diseases.
To learn more about the Tsunami Recovery Program, visit www.redcross.org/tsunami, and for more information about vaccination campaigns in Africa and Asia, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
Related Links:
|
