JAKARTA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia Health Minister Nila Moeloek said on Monday that the government is taking measures to deal with measles and malnutrition among toddlers in the easternmost province of Papua.
The health operation carried out by a joint team from the Health Ministry, the Social Affairs Ministry, police and military would serve as preceding measures.
"We will make programs with duration of 10 days each. We have concluded the initial program which will be continued with following ones within one month," the minister said.
She added that the joint health team has examined over 12,000 toddlers in 23 districts affected by the outbreak in Papua from September last year until Sunday.
To follow the preceding measures, the minister said deployment of 9 batches of paramedics in the affected areas has been arrangement for the next three months.
Those paramedics, called "Flying Health Care," would be deployed with planes to districts affected by the outbreak, mostly in the province's secluded and remote areas.
According to the Health Ministry, the outbreak in Papua has claimed lives of 71 toddlers, among thom 66 from measles and 5 from malnutrition.
She said that 1.2 tons of medicines to cure affected toddlers have been sent to the worst-hit area of Asmat regency.
