President Jokowi Instructs Ministries/Institutions to Prevent the Spread of Zika Virus
President Joko Jokowi Widodo instructed the related ministries and institutions to prepare anticipatory measures to prevent the outbreak of Zika virus which has been announced as global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1 February 2016.
In his remarks during the limited meeting held at Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/2) afternoon, President Jokowi asserted that the measures to be taken must be strategic and intersector measures.
According to the President, there are three measures that must be taken to face the possible spread of Zika virus.
First, we must conduct detection as early as possible in order to know the emergence of spread of zika virus cases.
It is also necessary to provide channels for fast reporting, as well as a strict and systematic monitoring system, President Jokowi added.
The second measure is by taking intensive measures in the prevention and conducting campaign to mobilise the people to eradicate mosquito nests as the vector to transmit the virus to human.
Education to the people on the prevention of the virus must also continue to be conducted, the President said.
Regarding the prevention, the President called on his administration to give warning to the people who will visit the countries that have been infected by Zika virus.
As well as conducting monitoring at the Countrys Entry Gate because the vector of Zika virus is possibly carried from the infected countries.
Lastly, the President instructed related ministries and institutions to provide fast response in the management of Zika virus. (UN/ES)(RAS/EP/YM/Naster)