REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesian government committed to fight malaria not only bilaterally, but also globally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said on Friday after meeting Princess Astrid of Belgium. “The commitment will be applied nationally and internationally, including in ASEAN, OIC, and G-20,” Natalegawa said. He added government put the health problem as a principle of Indonesia’s foreign policy.
As Special Representative to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), Princess Astrid of Belgium is visiting Indonesia to highlight the successes that the government has made in fight against malaria in Jakarta and Lampung. She will attend the launch of national RBM partnership named Forum Nasional Gebrak Malaria, which is also attended by Indonesian Vice President Boediono. She will also visit local malaria control programs in Bandar Lampung.
Malaria is endemic disease causing death, especially for baby, infant, and pregnant woman. In Indonesia, malaria sits in number six on the cause of mortality by infectious disease. Its control is in the global commitment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the target is to stop the spreading and decrease the incident.