Coastal residents lack health services
BATAM, Riau (JP): Of the country's total population of about 210 million people, nearly half of them inhabit the coastal areas of Indonesia's some 17,508 islands.
These coastal residents are more prone to health problems due to limited access to health services, especially in this time of crisis. Their high mobility also contributes to the problem.
The islands of Riau are an example of how difficult it is to provide health services to people in coastal areas and on isolated islands.
The province of Sumatra consists of about 3,214 islands, big and small, totaling some 335,213 square kilometers.
But only 4.5 million people live in this area, and reaching them is made even more difficult because they are spread unevenly across the islands.
A lack of medical staff also contributes to the problem, with the ratio of all doctors -- general practitioners, specialists and dentists -- to the population at 1:7,200.
There are only 627 doctors, 3,045 medical staff, 88 pharmacists and 1,226 midwives in a province which has nine general hospitals, 1,034 health centers and 4,148 integrated health service posts.
The combination of limited numbers of health workers and medical facilities has resulted in many cases of infectious disease going untreated and poor nutrition among residents, particularly on isolated islands.
"The health problems in rural and coastal areas that need to be solved include endemic contagious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, environmental sanitation and hygiene and bad nutrition," said Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi during a visit to Batam island, Riau.
One of the most common diseases here is diarrhea, which according to the ministry's provincial office afflicts between 230 and 300 people out of every 1,000 here annually.
Other common diseases are malaria, dengue hemorrhagic fever and skin diseases.
"But the most prevalent disease in this province is respiratory infections, such as pneumonia," the head of the office, Ridwansyah, told The Jakarta Post.
Another major concern is the fact that Riau has recorded the country's third highest total of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases
The ministry has recorded some 115 cases of HIV and AIDS in the province as of May 31, consisting of 102 HIV positive cases and 13 cases of AIDS.
To solve the health problems of those living in coastal areas, Achmad said special attention and collaboration was needed.
In response, the ministry and the local administration held a gathering of medical practitioners to discuss how to provide health services for people in rural and coastal areas.
Achmad also inaugurated on Monday the Bhaskara Jaya Operation, a joint health program with the Indonesian Navy in which the ship the KRI Teluk Mandar will transport over 300 doctors and medical staff to several isolated islands over a period of 13 days to provide free medical services to residents.
"They will provide basic health services, health information and perform surgeries on such things as cataracts, harelips and tumors," Achmad said.
"Hopefully, other parties, not just the Navy, will help us provide health services for rural and coastal areas." (hdn)