Jakarta
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge in January, 21-year-old Dian gave birth to her premature son in Tuban, East Java, which is now the epicenter of the Indonesian outbreak. The new mother said she had grown increasingly worried about her baby’s health, not only because of the new virus, but also the risk other childhood diseases pose if her son did not complete his immunization schedule. The epidemic has forced many Posyandu (integrated health services posts) in Tuban to temporarily suspend their services, just like in many other regions in the country. Posyandu are a vital part of the public health system in that they offer free primary immunizations for infants and children. "From the beginning, I didn't get any confirmation as to when [the Posyandu] would reopen,” Dian told The Jakarta ...