Gov’t Sets Up Task Force to Tackle Foot and Mouth Disease

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 23 Juni 2022
Category: News
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Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Head of the BNPB Suharyanto deliver statements after attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday (06/23). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

The Government will establish a Task Force to handle Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which is currently spreading among livestock in Indonesia. The Task Force will be chaired by Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

“Mr. President has approved the structure of the Task Force which will be chaired by the Head of BNPB,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said after attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday (06/23).

In the meantime, Head of the BNPB Suharyanto reaffirmed commitment to tackle the outbreak immediately.

“We will tackle [the outbreak] as quickly as possible because we have a model that we use in COVID-19 handling, so that we will apply the things we have done in the ongoing COVID-19 handling,” Suharyanto said.

Suharyanto also invited all related stakeholders to work hand in hand so that the disease can be handled properly.

On that occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto also said that the Government would implement micro-based restrictions on  mobility of livestock in areas affected by FMD or red zones.

Airlangga went on to say that details regarding the restrictions will be stipulated in Instruction of Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri).

The Government, he added, has also intensified FMD vaccination for livestock and that the procurement of vaccine will be financed by the national economic recovery budget.

“The measures that we take, besides managing livestock mobility, includes controlling those entering and leaving the farm. It means that bio-hazards through disinfectants are important because we must be vigilant against virus carrier,” he said.

Airlangga further said that the Government also provides compensation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“For animals that are culled or forcibly killed, the Government will provide compensation amounting to Rp 10 million per cow, especially for MSMEs ,” Airlangga remarked. (TGH/UN) (RI/LW)

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