Drought sparks skin irritation

Drought sparks skin irritation

KEBUMEN, Central Java: The ongoing drought here has forced
residents of no less than 37 villages in this regency to
drastically reduce their consumption of water to basic needs
only.

Many of the villagers are refraining themselves from wasting
water for bathing or washing.

"Finding drinking water is difficult enough, so just think
what it is like for bathing. We have to walk five kilometers to
get two gallons of water," Sumarto, 45, said, adding that he
takes a bath and washes his clothes every two to three days.

This lack of hygiene has caused widespread skin irritation
among villagers.

Head of the regency administration's social welfare unit,
Syamsul Bahri, said the skin disease occurred most in the
hardest-hit districts of Prembun, Alian, Kebumen, Sadang and
Pejagoan.

Syamsul said the local administration had asked for help from
the state water company and related institutions to anticipate
the worsening effects of drought. -- JP