LocationsSMILE Innovation in the Fight Against Rabies: A Story from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)
October 24, 2024
"Owners of Rabies-Transmitting Animals (RTA) are required to restrain or confine their pets," announced Edistasius Endi, the Head of West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara, following a rabies outbreak that claimed six lives in his region.
This directive was not issued for no reason. Throughout 2023, there were 184,000 rabies cases in Indonesia, resulting in 146 deaths, with 26 provinces in Indonesia being rabies-endemic, including East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease and widespread vaccination is the only effective solution to safeguard lives and prevent further outbreaks.
NTT is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places in eastern Indonesia, renowned for its breathtaking natural landscapes, with Labuan Bajo standing out as a premier tourist destination. As the gateway to Komodo Island, which has been designated as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by UNESCO, Labuan Bajo draws approximately 180,000 domestic visitors and 250,000 international tourists annually.
Vaccination as the Frontline Defense
However, despite its allure, Labuan Bajo faces a significant threat: the ongoing rabies outbreak, which endangers the health of its residents and threatens the continuity of its tourism sector.
The importance of vaccination cannot be overstated. Not just any vaccination, but specifically the critical anti-rabies vaccine, which is the key to saving lives and preventing further outbreaks in NTT’s rabies-endemic areas. Ensuring a reliable supply of this life-saving vaccine across remote regions like NTT presents significant logistical challenges.
This concern was also shared by one of the health workers, Maria Imelda Kurniawati (37), who has served in Labuan Bajo for 11 years.
“In the past, anxiety always haunted me,” recalled Imelda. “I was afraid of running out of vaccines or being too late to treat patients.”
Today, however, Imelda finds her work more manageable, thanks to the introduction of the SMILE application. Developed by UNDP and the Ministry of Health, SMILE has transformed how anti-rabies vaccines are distributed to healthcare workers in remote areas, ensuring that no region runs out of this crucial resource. The technology streamlines the tasks of healthcare workers and facilitates communication between regions and the Ministry of Health at the national level
“Even during my maternity leave, I was able to monitor vaccine stocks and storage temperatures from home,” said the mother of three.
Imelda explained that working in the healthcare sector in Labuan Bajo requires a high level of commitment due to the limited number of healthcare workers in the area. For this reason, the SMILE application has been invaluable, enabling efficient monitoring of vaccine logistics and storage—including rabies, routine immunization, and COVID-19 vaccines.
“While on maternity leave, I couldn’t leave my colleagues to handle everything on their own, so I continued to assist them remotely. SMILE has made it much easier for me to monitor operations from home at any time, ensuring that everything is taken care of promptly,” she added.
The SMILE application allows real-time monitoring and provides notifications on vaccine stock levels.
“For instance, if stocks are running low, SMILE sends an alert to my phone, allowing me to request additional vaccines from the Health Office, ensuring that the Puskesmas (community health center) maintains an adequate supply,” Imelda explained.
As of now (September 15, 2024), 39,058 doses of human anti-rabies vaccine have been administered to 16,078 people consisting of locals and international tourists in NTT by rabies referral facilities which include 291 Puskesmas. Additionally, more than 14.5 million doses of routine and COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to 436 Puskesmas throughout NTT.
Imelda’s story is just one of thousands involving healthcare workers stationed in remote Puskesmas across Indonesia. Many of these professionals juggle between being mothers and public servants. Thanks to advanced technology, the SMILE application has become a vital tool, allowing them to continue serving their communities, saving lives, and caring for their families all at the same time.
Author: Vidia Darmawi, Fetrinita Gantong, Ahmad Mujamil, Noor Hasibuan.
Edited by: Devi Nugraha
Media contact: Devi Nugraha - Head of Communications UNDP Indonesia
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