Aid in Action
Scout Merit Badges for Immunization in Indonesia!
Beginning in 2007, the MOH and MCCI/IP assisted Pramuka to develop a comprehensive training program on childhood immunization.
jakarta |
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Why should a child be immunized? On what schedule? What if an immunization is missed? Indonesia’s Boy and Girl Scouts (Pramuka) can now answer these questions, thanks to a partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Indonesia Immunization Project (MCC/IIP) managed by USAID Indonesia.
Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, is the fourth most populous country in the world. Spread over 6,000 inhabited islands and rich in cultural and linguistic diversity, the country faces many obstacles in terms of health services. Formerly high levels of immunization have fallen since 2001, leaving many children unprotected from hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and measles. Immunization against these diseases is among the most cost-effective health interventions for saving lives. Yet achieving high immunization coverage in Indonesia presents major challenges, such as overcoming misunderstandings about immunization, unreliable coverage data, vaccine supply issues, and limited government funding.
MCC/IIP partnership with Indonesia’s vibrant civil society has proven to be a powerful means to educate mothers, midwives and other community members about the importance of immunization. Pramuka, with over 22 million members, is well-organized, respected and passionate about community development. Beginning in 2007, the MOH and MCCI/IP assisted Pramuka to develop a comprehensive training program on childhood immunization. After developing training materials, master trainers were trained by the MOH in immunization basics. The master trainers are then responsible for training local Pramuka trainers throughout the country to train high school-aged scouts. Scouts who pass an oral exam are publicly honored with a ‘merit badge’ certifying them as official immunization volunteers.
Pramuka volunteers are responsible for educating family members on immunization basics and encouraging neighbors to immunize their children. They also participate in immunization days at local health centers, counseling mothers about immunization and reassuring those who are fearful.
One area where the program is having an impact is in Banten Province, which has some of the archipelago’s lowest immunization rates. Says Banten Pramuka member Karna, “Before, we didn’t know about immunization, but now we know how few children are immunized and how to do outreach. Our student volunteers are excited about having knowledge to share. We have already seen more mothers immunizing their children.”
Between September 2008 and January 2009, Pramuka issued merit badges to over 2,000 youth. Pramuka is also working to inform parliamentarians about immunization to institutionalize local government support for immunization into district plans and budgets.
Other prominent civil society partners supported by MCC/IIP and the MOH include national women’s organization Pemberdayaan dan Kesejahteranan Keluarga, faith-based organizations Muslimat NU and Aisyiyah, the Indonesian Midwives Association, and the Indonesian Pediatric Association. Together, these organizations are strengthening demand for immunization and stimulating wide commitment to its support.