Airport to tighten food, health control

Airport to tighten food, health control

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

Facing an increase in the incidents of contagious diseases
spreading across borders, the Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport plans to tighten its health controls.

Airport Health Office (KPP) head Rosjidi said on Thursday
during the launch of the program that all aircraft on domestic
and international flights would be examined as they enter and
leave the airport around the clock.

Food suppliers, grouped under the Aero Catering Service, and
their employees would also have health examinations every three
months, he added.

"We have to do this to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases through the airport," said Rosjidi.

Country gateways throughout the world had to deal with a major
problem when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) emerged
last year. Changi airport in Singapore was closed down
temporarily to prevent the disease from spreading in or out of
the country.

Director of Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health,
Umar Fahmi Achmadi, said that the Soekarno-Hatta airport needed
more thermal scanners to detect passengers with high fever,
however it already has 10.

He also urged the KPP to hold routine fumigation in the
aircraft.

To coordinate the program, a regular meeting will be held
every three months between the airport's working partners,
comprising the airlines, companies providing cleaning services,
ground handlers, parking service workers and the food suppliers.

KPP will also coordinate with the Customs and Excise office as
well as with the Immigration and Quarantine offices next year to
meet the general safety standards required at an international
airport, said Rosjidi.