Jokowi Strengthens Cross-Sector Coordination to Face Mpox, Minister of Health Reveals Preventive Strategy
Jakarta – The Indonesian government will take preventive measures to anticipate the spread of the Mpox virus, ahead of the implementation of the 2nd HLF-MSP and IAF in Bali.
Indonesia is hosting the international event High-Level Forum on Multi Stakeholder Partnership (HLF MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) 2024. The event will be held in Nusa Dua Bali from 1 to 3 September.
“I really ask for preventive efforts,” said President Jokowi, when holding a limited meeting with his staff to discuss preparations for the implementation of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali Province. The limited meeting took place at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (27/8).
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has paid special attention to the spread of the Mpox outbreak in the African region and specifically asked his staff to be aware of the spread of Mpox ahead of the implementation of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF).
The President instructed his staff to increase health surveillance at international arrival entry points. This step is not only from the Ministry of Health, but can also be carried out by other ministries/institutions.
“The experience of the previous Covid pandemic, this can be used as a reference so I ask for a health protocol to be created immediately and massive socialization regarding this,” added the President.
“On September 1-3, we know that the implementation of the Indonesia-Africa Forum is approaching. This forum was invited by 51 countries, 28 of which are from the African region and it is estimated that approximately 1,500 participants will attend,” said the President.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that although there are no special restrictions for Foreign Nationals (WNA) from Africa ahead of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali on September 1-3, 2024, Indonesia will strengthen the disease monitoring system by reactivating the Electronic Surveillance Card.
This system requires arrivals from abroad to fill in personal data, travel history, and undergo a health check.
If healthy, the system will show green citizens. However, if they have the potential to transmit, the system will show red, just like during Covid-19.
“If it’s yellow, red, we’ll look at the temperature, if it turns out to be high and there are rashes, a PCR will be taken,” said Budi.
Budi added that the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has prepared two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test machines in Cengkareng-Jakarta and Bali. The government will also identify travelers from Africa for further examination.
“If he is positive, he will be immediately isolated, in the hospital. Because our medicines have been prepared, the antivirus has been sent to Bali too, some to Jakarta. And all the reagents for PCR, for whole genome sequencing, we have prepared, and our lab will be complete, now in Jakarta, in Bali,” explained Budi.
To date, Indonesia has recorded 88 cases of monkeypox since it was first discovered in 2022, with details of 73 cases in 2023 and 14 cases in 2024. All of these cases have been declared cured after receiving treatment. The variant that is spreading is clade 1B with a fatality rate of 0.1 percent.
The government is making every effort and preparation so that the two prestigious activities can be held safely and smoothly. []
