Govt calls for blood for dengue sufferers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Alarmed by the rising death toll in the
\nnationwide dengue fever outbreak, government officials made a
\nfresh call yesterday for the public to donate blood.<\/p>\n
Dengue fever has particularly affected Java and South
\nSulawesi. Close to 200 people have reportedly died and thousands
\nof others have been hospitalized so far this year.<\/p>\n
Hospitals in affected areas have been asked to spare more
\nspaces for dengue patients. The epidemic is predicted to reach
\nits peak next month or in June.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, where the death toll climbed to 54 yesterday, the
\nadministration will require its civil servants to donate blood to
\nhelp the 5,680 people currently in hospital suffering from the
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Affairs Djailani said
\nyesterday that demand for blood from the local chapter of the
\nIndonesian Red Cross had risen sharply over the past week.<\/p>\n
City Red Cross chief Uga Wiranto reported Wednesday that blood
\nsupply was very low and that her understaffed office had to toil
\nround the clock to meet the demand.<\/p>\n
"From now on donating blood will be made a regular event for
\nevery city government office throughout the year, not only during
\ndengue outbreaks," Djailani said.<\/p>\n
"Donating blood will be a main feature of every office's
\nanniversary."<\/p>\n
The nationwide campaign for blood donations to help dengue
\npatients was first called by Minister of Social Affairs Siti
\nHardijanti Rukmana here Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In the East Java capital of Surabaya, the local Red Cross is
\nissuing 90 blood bags, which contain 250cc each, every day, local
\nRed Cross chief Budi Arifa said.<\/p>\n
Budi reported that the number of cases of dengue fever in the
\ncoastal city was increasing every day, prompting the Red Cross to
\nwork extra hard to ensure an adequate supply of blood.<\/p>\n
"We have called on the people, especially patients' relatives
\nto donate their blood," she said.<\/p>\n
In the South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang, health
\nofficials reported yesterday that as of Wednesday, 19 of the
\napproximately 600 people treated for dengue so far this year had
\ndied.<\/p>\n
The head of the provincial health office, Burhanuddin Yusuf,
\ntold The Jakarta Post that the government was intensifying
\nefforts to eradicate Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the
\ndengue virus.<\/p>\n
Health authorities in Yogyakarta said four more people died in
\nhospital of dengue yesterday, bringing the number of local
\nfatalities to 48.<\/p>\n
Local activists of environmental organizations and politicians
\nurged the local government to do more to control the outbreak.<\/p>\n
"Dengue has claimed dozens of lives. The government should act
\nwithout delay to end the epidemic," said Marfuah Djamal, a city
\ncouncil member.<\/p>\n
In Bogor, West Java, the death toll reached 25 yesterday and
\nabout 800 people were hospitalized, officials said.<\/p>\n
Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi criticized hospitals which asked
\npatients' relatives for a down payment.<\/p>\n
"How can a hospital committed to humanitarian work ask for a
\ndown payment?" he asked.<\/p>\n
He said the mayoralty had set up alert posts in 68 subdistrict
\noffices to monitor the development of the dengue fever outbreak.<\/p>\n
The alert posts would also be asked to distribute free abate
\npowder to residents to kill the Aedes aegypti larvae.<\/p>\n
The mayoralty plans to fumigate the worst hit areas, including
\nKebon Pedes, Lawang Gintung, Kedung Halang, Kedung Badak, Kedung
\nWaringin and Ciparigi.<\/p>\n
Nine community health centers in the regency were asked to
\nopen around the clock.<\/p>\n
In Tangerang, where dengue has so far claimed 19 lives and
\nhospitalized 557 others, hospitals have been asked to prepare
\nmore rooms for the increasing number of patients.<\/p>\n
Tangerang General Hospital has increased the number of medical
\npersonnel to handle the streaming patients.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, officials said the disease had killed 62 people
\nand affected another 2,259 in Central Java.
\n(ind\/aan\/jun\/30\/23\/24\/41\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-calls-for-blood-for-dengue-sufferers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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