Surabaya (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry gave an award to the city of Surabaya, East Java, as it was considered successful in boosting the immune system of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We thank you for being given this appreciation. We are increasingly convinced that working as a family is much more powerful and can felt by the community," Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi noted in a written statement here on Tuesday.
"This encourages us to be more enthusiastic about serving public health," he affirmed.
The award certificate from the ministry was handed over by Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi to the Head of the Surabaya Health Service Nanik Sukristina and 63 heads of Community Health Centers at the Surabaya City Hall, Monday.
Cahyadi said the ministry had given three categories of awards to Surabaya, comprising categories for Agencies (Surabaya City Government), Health Service Facilities, and individuals (head of the Public Health Center).
"These three awards were given to the City of Surabaya. All health service facilities and heads of Public Health Centers in Surabaya are awarded," he remarked.
"Meanwhile, the city government was also given an award," he added.
Related news: Surabaya to conduct vaccination campaigns to expedite herd immunity
Cahyadi expressed gratitude since the synergy and hard work of all parties allowed Surabaya to increase the community's immunity in the pandemic. With this commitment, Surabaya was given an award by the ministry.
The former head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Agency said that the vaccination rate in Surabaya for doses 1 and 2 had reached over 100 percent.
As of January 1, 2023, the vaccination rate for dose 3 in Surabaya had even reached 58.51 percent or exceeded the national target.
"For doses 1 and 2, it is 100 percent more. Meanwhile, the fourth dose has only reached 23.60 percent, as it is hampered by the number of vaccines. Meanwhile, the third dose of vaccination in Surabaya has exceeded the national target," he remarked.
He explained that vaccination achievements in Surabaya were achieved owing to the enthusiasm of all health workers.
To this end, he expressed optimism that their enthusiasm while facing COVID-19 would also be shown in serving the community to solve other health problems.
"Not only COVID-19, but we still have many tasks, such as stunting, malnutrition, and so on. Hopefully, this (award) will encourage us to overcome it all," he stated.
Related news: East Java projected to attain herd immunity in August: Prabowo
