Medan Launch of Immunization Project Attracts Governor, USG, Supermodel Participation

On September 6, North Sumatra Governor Rudolf M. Pardede announced the beginning of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Immunization Project's (MCC/IP) activities in eight regencies in North Sumatra.

In addition to gubernatorial support, the launch was attended by former supermodel and immunization advocate Okky Asokawati as well as US Consul in Medan, Sean Stein.

In his remarks, the governor noted that the program was a good way to raise awareness of the importance of immunizations to children's health.

The MCC/IP comprises a US$20 million grant over two years providing technical assistance to the Government of Indonesia's Expanded Program on Immunization and is being implemented by the Partnership for Child Health Care, Inc. through USAID Indonesia.

The project is focusing its technical assistance efforts in seven provinces that contain the majority of Indonesia's unimmunized children. The assistance is designed to enable the government of Indonesia to rapidly increase routine immunization coverage rates among infants.

In conjunction with the launch, two and a half days of intensive training of district health officials helped kick off the program's efforts. The officials in this training strengthened their skills in advocacy and social mobilization for vaccine campaigns. The MCC/IP team also met with the relevant stakeholders in North Sumatra, which included the provincial health authorities, NGOs, and social service organizations.

Participants from the program launch also visited a nearby posyandu (community health post) where an immunization event was occurring. The message of the importance of maintaining a child's growth chart and immunization was passed along to mothers and children in attendance.

All MCC Threshold Program activities