•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Every year, thousands of Indonesians succumb to malaria and dengue fever in an era when many other countries have already defeated these two deadly diseases.

It is true that in a country with such a varied terrain and geographical obstacles, eradicating the mosquitos that spread these diseases is a difficult feat.

However, despite the enormous challenge in eradicating malaria, the government is vowing to free Java, the country’s most developed as well as most populated island, from the disease by 2015. If the target for Java is met, the government would expand the malaria-free zone to cover Kalimantan and Sulawesi by 2020 and to eastern Indonesia a decade later.

We applaud the government’s target and determination. As the nation has shown repeatedly in the past, it has been able to overcome seemingly impossible challenges if there is enough political will, effort and commitment.

To achieve this target, the Ministry of Health cannot work alone. It is imperative that the ministry works with local communities in ensuring that all breeding grounds for mosquitos are eliminated. It is also imperative that any suspected outbreaks are detected early so that the appropriate measures can be taken.

Public awareness about what can be done to prevent the proliferation of the mosquitos that are the carriers of the disease has certainly been on the rise, thanks to the relentless efforts by the government through its public campaign on the issue. Yet, much still needs to be done. Awareness alone is not enough.

There is a need for this awareness to also translate into a change of mind-set, one that automatically deprives mosquitos of their breeding grounds.

Just as for the public in general, prevention should also be a key word for the government.

Malaria remains a public health problem nationwide, particularly in rural areas and islands beyond Java and Bali. About 1.5 million cases are detected each year. In 2009, the number of confirmed cases of malaria was more than 500,000.

To combat such deadly diseases, the government must adopt a prevention rather than a cure policy. The prevention of the spread of malaria and dengue is far more effective than trying to cure patients with the disease.