Hembing launches book on SARS

Hembing launches book on SARS

JAKARTA: Herbal medicine expert H.M. Hembing Wijayakusuma has
made the best of the ongoing Jakarta Book Festival 2003,
launching his latest book Proteksi Dini Terhadap SARS (How to
protect yourself from SARS).

The prolific writer was not dismayed when only several people
attended the launch. "It (low attendance) is okay, because this
shows that Indonesians are not afraid of SARS," he quipped.

The book offers tips on how to deal with the deadly Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, which started in southern
China and spread to much of the world.

"I was in Guangdong when the first SARS case was reported, so
I think I have the authority to write a book (on it)," he said.

Hembing said he could not imagine if SARS became a nationwide
epidemic, as is happening in China, because Indonesians have bad
habits when it comes to health and hygiene.

"Even countries that are highly disciplined like China, Taiwan
and Singapore are overwhelmed. What might happen if an epidemic
breaks out in Indonesia?" he said. -- JP