Coastal residents lack health services<\/p>\n
BATAM, Riau (JP): Of the country's total population of about
\n210 million people, nearly half of them inhabit the coastal areas
\nof Indonesia's some 17,508 islands.<\/p>\n
These coastal residents are more prone to health problems due
\nto limited access to health services, especially in this time of
\ncrisis. Their high mobility also contributes to the problem.<\/p>\n
The islands of Riau are an example of how difficult it is to
\nprovide health services to people in coastal areas and on
\nisolated islands.<\/p>\n
The province of Sumatra consists of about 3,214 islands, big
\nand small, totaling some 335,213 square kilometers.<\/p>\n
But only 4.5 million people live in this area, and reaching
\nthem is made even more difficult because they are spread unevenly
\nacross the islands.<\/p>\n
A lack of medical staff also contributes to the problem, with
\nthe ratio of all doctors -- general practitioners, specialists
\nand dentists -- to the population at 1:7,200.<\/p>\n
There are only 627 doctors, 3,045 medical staff, 88
\npharmacists and 1,226 midwives in a province which has nine
\ngeneral hospitals, 1,034 health centers and 4,148 integrated
\nhealth service posts.<\/p>\n
The combination of limited numbers of health workers and
\nmedical facilities has resulted in many cases of infectious
\ndisease going untreated and poor nutrition among residents,
\nparticularly on isolated islands.<\/p>\n
\"The health problems in rural and coastal areas that need to
\nbe solved include endemic contagious diseases, sexually
\ntransmitted diseases, environmental sanitation and hygiene and
\nbad nutrition,\" said Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi during a
\nvisit to Batam island, Riau.<\/p>\n
One of the most common diseases here is diarrhea, which
\naccording to the ministry's provincial office afflicts between
\n230 and 300 people out of every 1,000 here annually.<\/p>\n
Other common diseases are malaria, dengue hemorrhagic fever
\nand skin diseases.<\/p>\n
\"But the most prevalent disease in this province is
\nrespiratory infections, such as pneumonia,\" the head of the
\noffice, Ridwansyah, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Another major concern is the fact that Riau has recorded the
\ncountry's third highest total of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
\n(HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases<\/p>\n
The ministry has recorded some 115 cases of HIV and AIDS in
\nthe province as of May 31, consisting of 102 HIV positive cases
\nand 13 cases of AIDS.<\/p>\n
To solve the health problems of those living in coastal areas,
\nAchmad said special attention and collaboration was needed.<\/p>\n
In response, the ministry and the local administration held a
\ngathering of medical practitioners to discuss how to provide
\nhealth services for people in rural and coastal areas.<\/p>\n
Achmad also inaugurated on Monday the Bhaskara Jaya Operation,
\na joint health program with the Indonesian Navy in which the ship
\nthe KRI Teluk Mandar will transport over 300 doctors and medical
\nstaff to several isolated islands over a period of 13 days to
\nprovide free medical services to residents.<\/p>\n
\"They will provide basic health services, health information
\nand perform surgeries on such things as cataracts, harelips and
\ntumors,\" Achmad said.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, other parties, not just the Navy, will help us
\nprovide health services for rural and coastal areas.\" (hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coastal-residents-lack-health-services-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}