Batulicin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Head of Tanah Bumbu Health Agency H Damrah.(AntaranewsKalsel/special)
Number of people affected by acute respiratory infection (ISPA) keeps arising in Tanah Bumbu District, South Kalimantan Province, during the dry season.
"Haze from forest and land fire (karhutla) has worsen the condition," said Head of the district Health Agency H. Damrah in Batulicin, Friday.
In the period of January-August 2019, he added, as many as 14,132 people in all sub-districts have been recorded to suffer from ISPA.
In January 1,631 patients, then the number increased by 270 in February to 1,958 sufferers, March 1,953 and reduced to 1,445 in April, but jumped again to 2,185 in May, and it became 1,592 in June, 1,508 in July, then risen by 200 people to become 1,759 in August.
Damrah said, some strategic steps have been taken to reduce the number, one of which by distributing mouth mask for free to residents in every puskesmas (public health center). It also asked companies and other agencies to take part in distributing mask to the public.
The local government provides a free treatment for ISPA sufferers by assigning some medical personnel in every forest and land fire command post.
"Considering the current situation, we ask residents to reduce their outdoor activities, and if possible wear mouth mask when activiting to lessen patient with acute respiratory infection," he concluded.
