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)