South Kalimantan Health Office declares ARI alert, urges people to wear mask

Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - Head of South Kalimantan Health Office Diauddin stated that the province is now in the state of alert for acute respiratory infection (ARI or ISPA) due increased smog originating from forest and land fires (karhutla).

One of steps to avoid the disease from increasing, Diauddin said in Banjarbaru, Saturday, residents are asked to wear mask, especially when outdoors.
 
"We urge people to wear mask when doing activities outdoor and always maintain health by drinking vitamins and lots of water," he advised.

He said that the long dry season this year coupled with a large number of forest and land fires has caused the air to become less healthy
 
As a result, Diauddin said, ISPA or ARI cases reports from various districts and cities in the province have increased.

Related news: Students in Banjarmasin asked to wear masks to be aware of ARI

The most serious were in Banjarmasin city which recorded 36,082 cases, followed by Banjar District 26,237 cases.
 
Then the City of Banjarbaru 22,910 cases, Central Hulu Sungai 17,699 cases, Kotabaru 13,445 cases, Balangan 12,174 cases.
 
Next was South Hulu Sungai District 11,584 cases, North Hulu Sungai 10,267 cases, Tabalong 9,875 cases. 

Furthermore Tanah Bumbu 9,786 cases, Tapin 9,698 cases and Barito Kuala 8,125 cases. 
 
"So the total ISPA cases in 13 districts and cities in south Kalimantan is currently 189,111," he said.

Related news: Banjarbaru handles 58 cases of pneumonia, not all due to karhutla
Related news: ISPA cases highly increase in Banjar District due to karhutla

With the increasing number of ISPA cases from previous months, it must be addressed seriously, he said, with collaboration between provincial and district/city government.
 
Diauddin acknowledged that the case of ISPA is not only casued by forest and land fire smoke, but also becuase of dust which is also quite high in the air, as the land dry due to drought.
 
"Fortunately up to now there have been no reports of ISPA patients dying," he said.
 
However, the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan and the rank of Health Office, said Diauddin, keep moving to tackle ISPA disease by distributing masks to the public and providing health services at every forest and land fire command post and other facilities.
 
"We have also issued a circular to districts and cities regarding awarness of the increase in ISPA," said Diauddin.

Related news: Forest and land fires reach 1,437 hectares in South Kalimantan: BPBD