Govt promotes 'Yes and No' lifestyle

Celebrating National Health Day in Jakarta on Tuesday, Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi launched a national health campaign by urging the public to say "yes" to what it has identified as four healthy habits and "no" to four bad ones.

Sujudi also urged the public to say "yes" to regular physical workouts, eating nutritious food, controlling stress and protecting the environment.

In addition, people should say "no" to smoking, drinking alcohol drinks or liquor, using drugs and sex before marriage.

During the celebration, Minister Sujudi also explained that his office had produced a guidance book for a healthy life.

"If everyone follows the guide, we can achieve our target for Healthy Indonesia 2010, and that would be a milestone for us," he said.

He urged non-governmental organizations and regional administrations to help promote healthy lifestyles for the public.

On the same occasion, the minister also cautioned people over a possible outbreak of dengue fever during this time of climatic transition from the dry to the rainy season.

Sujudi said that people should start cleaning up their surroundings to prevent the Aedes aegepty mosquito, which caused dengue fever, from breeding.

The recent outbreak of dengue fever reported in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak, claimed at least 18 lives.

A total 1,140 dengue fever cases were discovered in the area over the past 10 months, with a sharp increase in the first week of November, at 82 cases.

The Ministry of Health has recorded that dengue fever attacks 16 people per 100,000 of the population. -- JP