Hera Diani, Jakarta – Amid international criticism that it is not doing enough to contain bird flu, the government launched a public awareness campaign Friday about the deadly virus that has killed more people here than anywhere else in the world.
Titled "Be Aware of Bird Flu", it includes TV public service announcements with prevention messages, such as to never touch dead fowl, for hand-washing after handling fowl or visiting markets, and to report dead poultry to authorities.
As with Jackie Chan's participation in PSAs broadcast in Hong Kong and the Asian region, the national campaign features local celebrities like talk-show host Farhan and doctor-turned-celebrity Lula Kamal. Other campaign materials include comic book and stickers in public places.
Bayu Krisnamurti, the head of the newly launched Indonesia National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FBPI), said the campaign also would focus on poultry surveillance and biosecurity, which he admitted were still lacking.
He reiterated the appeal for more international financial support to fight the disease, which has killed 47 Indonesians since June 2005.
"It's not that we're begging for foreign help, but it's a global problem that we should handle together. A campaign for 220 million people requires massive funds. We are inviting all parties who are concerned about the health and safety of many people to be involved."
He refused to disclose details of the campaign's budget, but said the government would need up to US$260 million annually for the next three years to finance its programs against bird flu.
"We have come up with a detailed financial strategy. It's up to the World Bank to provide whatever contribution they choose to give," he said, referring to the financial institution's recommendation earlier this week that a comprehensive plan and strategy was essential to tackle the outbreak.
Meanwhile, a leading bird flu expert from the University of Hong Kong urged the country to do more in animal surveillance to curb H5N1 and understand how the virus behaves.
"Since 2003, it (Indonesia) has had no new introduction of the H5N1. It has only one strain, but its problem is like China's. It can't clean it up," said Guan Yi, microbiology professor who has studied the virus since 1997.
While Guan thought Indonesia was in as bad a situation as China when it came to controlling the disease in birds, he said what set the two countries apart was the strength of their government.
"Even China is better than Indonesia in some ways. China's government is at least strong, it can just lock people up. But Indonesia can't do that, it is so dispersed. It has no control," he told Reuters, referring to cases where people suffering from bird flu had simply refused to be treated and left the hospital.
He said Thailand's method in getting villagers to do animal surveillance was effective and the practice can be adopted by other nations. Thailand, however, has seen a reemergence of bird flu, with two fatalities in recent weeks. Guan expressed concern over nations where access to information has yet to readily available.
"There are countries that are black boxes; Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia. They are forgotten by the world. These are dangerous places," he said.
Meanwhile, Keiji Fukuda of the WHO told Reuters in Geneva on Thursday that there was no evidence so far that the two groups of suspect cases in Indonesia might point to human-to-human transmission of the virus.
"It looks like these are exposures to infected birds," said the coordinator of WHO's global influenza program, on the sidelines of a health forum in the Swiss city.