Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Thursday called on all parties in the country to strive jointly to lower the incidence of malaria and the malaria-caused mortality rate.
"The handling of malaria has tended to improve and become more effective in the past three years. The mortality rate continues to decrease," Antara news agency quoted the president as saying at a function to mark World Malaria Day at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital here.
Quoting a report from the health ministry, the President said the number of people who died of malaria decreased from 0.92 percent in 2005 to 0.42 percent in 2006 and to 0.2 percent in 2007.
"But do not be satisfied first. (The fight against and the handling of malaria) should be carried out more properly. We must lower the mortality rate to nil percent. With hard work, we will achieve this goal," he added.
He therefore called for the implementation of three things, namely improving the ways to make people more aware about malaria; improving the capability of health officers to treat malaria and using the right medicines and newest technology in treating malaria sufferers.
He said malaria was an old disease which had reappeared due to the impact of climate change and therefore a global commitment and cooperation were needed to overcome it.
In Indonesia, 424 out of the country's 576 districts/municipalities are malaria-endemic areas and some 45 percent of Indonesians are susceptible to malaria.
Source:Xinhua
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