Success StoryNovember 7, 2008 | www.mcc.gov MCC Funding Boosts Childhood Immunization Rates Over three million children receive improved health care in Indonesia Ensuring complete and proper vaccinations has been a challenge for many families in Indonesia, even though nearly all citizens have access to routine immunizations. This finding, derived from a recent nationwide survey conducted by the University of Indonesia and funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program, together with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, is a key tool in identifying and addressing a problem that affects millions of children throughout the islands of Indonesia. Thanks to MCC’s support, the household immunization survey has delivered the most accurate picture of immunization coverage in Indonesia in recent years. Providing province-specific data has allowed the government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Health, to hone its efforts to improve childhood immunization rates in Indonesia and overcome barriers specific to certain remote regions of the archipelago nation. Dr. Jane Soepardi, National Immunization Program Manager, notes the importance of accurate data. "For more than 20 years Indonesia has been without valid and precise data on immunization coverage. This survey helps to correct that," she said. T he MCC threshold program with Indonesia, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, totals $55 million, with $20 million focused on solely immunization, and is working to boost immunization rates by assisting the government of Indonesia to vaccinate children against measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. Indonesia’s MCC threshold program is helping to build a sustainable childhood immunization system by measuring vaccination coverage and ensuring the availability of quality vaccine supplies. A major obstacle to complete childhood immunizations in Indonesia had been a lack of materials informing parents about how and when to have their children immunized. As a result of the recent study, the MCC threshold program has developed public service announcements focused on alleviating parents’ worries about the costs and side effects of immunizations, as well as emphasizing proper childhood immunization schedules. With MCC funding, nearly 80 percent of Indonesia’s districts have implemented local monitoring tools for improved immunization coverage with nearly 8,000 health officials now trained in immunization program management, supportive supervision, and vaccine supply management. The program has documented that more than 3.5 million children under the age of one have been immunized with measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines in provinces included in the threshold program. This proper documentation will help to ensure safe and dependable vaccinations and healthier and more prosperous lives for boys and girls throughout Indonesia. Routine childhood immunization was identified by the government of Indonesia as a priority in its efforts to improve the lives of its citizens and reduce poverty. The country’s average measles diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus childhood immunization rate is one of the 17 indicators on which countries are evaluated to assess eligibility for large-scale MCC grants, called compacts. MCC is proud to partner with Indonesia in its effort to tackle this problem and provide a brighter, healthier future for the children of Indonesia. _________________________________________________________________ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119462413/direct/01/ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤