Although we are witnessing a decline in malaria count, Indonesia still stands among the most significant contributors to malaria deaths in the world. We need to execute a malaria prevention movement on a massive scale.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has called on the government to be consistent in raising people's awareness about measures to deal with malaria disease.

"Although we are witnessing a decline in malaria count, Indonesia still stands among the most significant contributors to malaria deaths in the world. We need to execute a malaria prevention movement on a massive scale," she said in a written statement received here on Monday.

Moerdijat opined that the government needs to promote a movement that aims to prevent and manage malaria cases through public dissemination.

She further said that there is an urgent need to promote a healthier lifestyle in Indonesia to prevent the deadly disease from spreading to an even broader population.

The legislator added that she views the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the creation of a healthy environment as strategic steps necessary for addressing the challenges posed by the emergence and spread of several diseases induced by climate change.

Bearing that in mind, Moerdijat urged the relevant stakeholders at the central and regional levels to exert determined efforts to guide people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and pave the way for a healthy environment.

That way, she added, Indonesia will succeed in eliminating malaria and produce more resilient, competitive, and healthier talents.

As of April 25, 2024, the Health Ministry has recorded 418,546 malaria cases across several provinces, including Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Riau, South Sulawesi, Maluku, Gorontalo, West Java, and Jakarta.
Based on the World Malaria Report 2023 of the World Health Organization, India and Indonesia still account for about 94 percent of total malaria deaths in the Southeast Asian region.

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Translator: Rio F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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