Dengue strikes again

Dengue strikes again

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja is warning Jakartans of the spread of dengue fever and asking them to take precautions against the epidemic.

"The best way to eliminate the fever is to clean up mosquito breeding places. This is an endemic disease, no vaccine or medicine can cure it. We need more hospitals to better serve the public," he said over the weekend.

The governor made the remark while attending a ceremony marking the start of construction on the Pasar Rebo general hospital in East Jakarta.

Suryadi said he would invite private companies to build more hospitals in the city. "But the companies are required not to solely think of making money. They also have to think of the socials functions of hospitals."

When the widening works are completed the hospital will have 200 beds. The hospital provides various facilities, including emergency and operation rooms, specialist clinics and laboratories.

On the occasion Surjadi also installed a special team to monitor the spread of dengue fever in five mayoralties in Jakarta.

"We have taken several steps to prevent the disease, including a public presentation on the disease, epidemiology surveillance and mass fumigation," said Justin Simatupang, an official from the Health Ministry. (31)