National, Provincial Governments To Band Together To Fight Bird Flu, Implement Presidential Instruction

Jakarta, 2 March 2007- National and provincial leaders from across Indonesia vowed today to work together to control bird flu by 2008 at a national meeting in Jakarta.

The meeting, held March 1 and 2, brought together national government ministers, provincial governors, and other officials from across Indonesia to determine the best way to implement an instruction from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Presidential Instruction Number 1, 2007, issued 12 February 2007, calls for all leels of government to implement or step-up a full range of coordinated actions to bring bird flu under control.

“We have entered a new phase in the fight against bird flu,” said Bayu Krisnamurthi, Chief Executive of Komnas FBPI, Indonesia’s national bird-flu coordinating body. 

“The presidential instruction mobilizes every level of government, from national ministers to ‘bupatis’ (local leaders), right across the country to work together to fight this virus. We have a common goal, and we will bring this virus under control by 2008.”

Officials agreed on a number of strategies to implement the presidential instruction, including increased public-awareness campaigns in high-risk or endemic areas; they also agreed to work together to minimize the social-economic impact of avian influenza, including dealing with the impact on protein consumption, particularly on low-income families.

“We recognize that the virus does present hardships for these families. But local communities can minimize the impact by becoming involved in the campaign,” said Mr. Krisnamurthi.

Provincial governments also agreed to expand bird-flu vaccination programs and strengthen veterinary services.

The Presidential Instruction also directs regional and local government to implement bird-flu control programs, including culling and compensation, and to implement restrictions on keeping birds in residential areas.

To implement the Presidential Instruction, officials also agreed that the Indonesian military (TNI) would take part in the country’s war against avian influenza. Upon request from the government, the TNI will support national and regional bird-flu control efforts as needed in remote and isolated areas, and by distributing logistics to support local administrations in such areas.

The military will also provide medical personnel and facilities. It was agreed at the Jakarta meeting that two military hospitals will be become avian influenza reference hospitals to ensure wider access to medical care for bird flu patients.

“The military will be used in response to an official government request. We will coordinate all military services related to bird-flu control programs,” said Mr. Krisnamurthi. “The military will also work closely in developing Indonesia’s contingency plan for a possible pandemic by holding regular simulation and field exercises.”

The Presidential Instruction also calls for the creation of a network of local ‘first responder’ teams who can react quickly to animal or human cases of avian influenza.  Komnas FBPI plans to coordinate with its partners to train and equip these teams with specialized equipment and vehicles, right across Indonesia.

Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie said the Presidential Instruction is a major step forward in bird flu-control, and the prevention of a possible human pandemic.

“For the first time in its history, mankind has the opportunity to prepare for a possible global pandemic. This meeting is a key step to dealing with this,” he said

The H5N1 avian influenza virus is a highly pathogenic virus that mainly affects birds. In rare cases, humans can also become infected.  Experts warn that the virus could mutate into a new form, which spreads easily between humans, with the potential to kick off a global influenza pandemic.

To date, there have been 84 confirmed human cases of infection H5N1 in Indonesia, including 64 fatalities.