TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi is seeking to make Indonesia measles and rubella - free by 2020.

Jokowi today launched Measles-Rubella (MR) Immunization Campaign in Sleman State Islamic Junior High School (Madrasah Tsanawiyah) in Yogyakarta.

“I fully support the national immunization campaign to make children Measles-Rubella-free,” President Jokowi said.

On the occasion, the President and the First Lady Iriana were accompanied by state ministers and local officials, including the Coordinating Minister for Human Development Puan Maharani, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Presidential Special Staff Johan Budi, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Sleman Regen Sri Purnomo.

Jokowi said that immunization, among others, can keep children healthy.

“It’s a task for parents and a task for the government. God gives us children to be loved, educated, protected and nurtured particularly be kept away from dangerous and deadly diseases,” he noted.

He said that less than MR vaccine has so far been administered to less than one percent of Indonesian children. “Ideally, over 95 percent should have been MR vaccinated and even 100 percent. It must be done,” he said.

Therefore, the government is committed to eradicating measles and control rubella as well as birth defects caused by rubella infection in Indonesia by 2020 by giving MR vaccine to children age 9 months to 15 years.

Having launched the MR immunization campaign, the President held small talks with two children about the campaign.

Jokowi later inspected Measles – Rubella immunization program at the Islamic school.

ANTARA