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U.S. EMBASSY
FACT SHEET
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PUBLIC
AFFAIRS SECTION |
April 23, 2008
Fact Sheet:
The Truth About NAMRU-2
Bahasa Indonesia
What is NAMRU-2?
Naval Medical Research
Unit No. 2 (NAMRU-2) is a biomedical research laboratory that studies
infectious diseases of mutual interest to the United States, the
Indonesian Ministry of Health, and the international public health
community. NAMRU-2 was established in Jakarta in 1970 upon the
invitation of Indonesian Ministry of Health officials.
What is the scope of NAMRU-2’s work in
Indonesia?
These shared research interests focus on malaria, viral
diseases including dengue fever, enteric infections leading to diarrhea,
and other emerging infectious diseases, including avian influenza.
NAMRU-2 studies only relate to naturally-occurring tropical diseases.
Why is NAMRU-2 a military facility?
The
United States military, and especially its Navy, has a long history of
medical research. This began in 1853, when the U.S. Congress created the
first Naval Medical Research facility in Brooklyn, New York. NAMRU-2 is
part of that tradition, and one of five U.S. overseas tropical disease
research laboratories. The others are located in Thailand, Egypt, Kenya
and Peru. The U.S. Government does not profit from the operation of
NAMRU-2, and in fact, much of its research focuses on research
considered “unprofitable” by private medical research facilities.
Is NAMRU-2 a secret facility?
Is NAMRU-2
doing intelligence work? No. NAMRU-2’s facilities are always open to all
visitors who share their interests, and welcomes scientists and
physicians from Government of Indonesia laboratories, from the military,
and from universities. It is an entirely transparent organization, and
conducts only medical and scientific research, focusing on
naturally-occurring tropical diseases.
Who works at NAMRU-2?
NAMRU-2 is staffed
almost entirely by Indonesian scientists, doctors, veterinarians,
technologists and administrative personnel. Out of approximately 175
staff members, only 19 are Americans. It is NAMRU-2’s Indonesian staff
that makes it a success.
Who directs NAMRU-2’s activities in
Indonesia?
All NAMRU-2 projects are approved by the National Institute
of Health Research and Development (Badan LITBANGKES). NAMRU-2 conducts
all its studies in partnership with our Indonesian colleagues, and never
operates alone. NAMRU-2 is part of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. NAMRU-2
falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Embassy.
What has NAMRU-2 done for Indonesia?
• They continuously provide essential
training in fundamental laboratory techniques to hundreds of
Indonesian
health workers and researchers.
• They have trained over 50 Indonesian
scientists in the laboratory cultivation of malaria parasites
and in
sophisticated disease detection methods.
• They train 30 Indonesian university
students each year in virology and bacteriology techniques.
• They demonstrated that primaquine
prevents malaria, thereby making this common and affordable
drug useful
to Indonesians who travel to high-risk areas.
• They led a $4 million effort against a
malaria epidemic in Central Java; annual malaria cases
decreased from
70,000 to fewer than 4,000.
• They provided training, advanced
testing, supplies and epidemiology support to the Ministry of
Health to
characterize recent dengue outbreaks in Palembang, Bandung, Jakarta,
Yogyakarta and
Medan.
• Provides job for over 150 Indonesians.
• They donated a fully furnished
research laboratory in Jayapura, Papua, to LITBANGKES.
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