"We appreciate the assistance provided by Australia for overcoming FMD. This shows the strong relationship between the two countries, especially its (Australia’s) ties with the people of South Sulawesi," South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman said here on Wednesday.
To help check the spread of FMD in South Sulawesi, the Australian government has donated as many as 200 thousand doses of the FMD vaccine, he informed.
In addition, on October 26–27, 2022, more than 500 people, including veterinarians, veterinary paramedics, as well as military and police personnel were trained in vaccinating livestock. The training was supported by the Agriculture Ministry and the Australia-Indonesia Health Security Partnership (AIHSP).
"Communities were taught about the proper handling of animals, the vaccination process, and the reporting of FMD immunizations," Sulaiman informed.
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Meanwhile, Australian Consul-General, Bronwyn Robbins, said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, that her party has so far organized vaccination field training in 23 districts in the province.
The training, which has involved vaccinators and livestock data encoders, has covered practice on administering FMD vaccines.
"At the end of the training, more than 13,900 livestock throughout South Sulawesi were vaccinated," she said.
According to Robbins, 1.4 million doses of the FMD vaccine that arrived in Indonesia on October 26 were a part of the Australian government's commitment to supplying 4 million doses of the vaccine to Indonesia, as conveyed by Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry in August 2022.
"Australia is committed to helping Indonesia eradicate FMD in this country," Robbins said.
Earlier, Indonesia's Agriculture Ministry had said it is targeting to administer 500 thousand doses of the FMD vaccine to livestock in South Sulawesi.
In this regard, the ministry is cooperating with the South Sulawesi Livestock and Animal Health Office and the AIHSP to hold training for vaccinators and data encoders.
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Translator: Hasanuddin, Kenzu
Editor: Suharto
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