Hospitals told to aid dengue patients

Hospitals told to aid dengue patients

JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged hospitals here yesterday
not to reject or fail to give priority to those with dengue fever
during the current outbreak.

Soeparmo, head of Commission E for welfare affairs, said
yesterday that refusing to provide medical treatment would only
worsen a sufferer's condition.

He said the latest data from the City Health Office revealed
that this year's death toll was 36 as of yesterday, up from 31 on
Friday.

"Hospitals must be aware that it (the fever) is a true
disaster for all of us. It's not as minor as scabies or
ringworm."

Soeparmo made the remarks after there was an indication that
hospitals might reject dengue fever sufferers for various
reasons, including a shortage of beds.

"A private hospital in East Jakarta has been reported to us
because it recently refused to treat a dengue fever sufferer who
came for medication at night," he said without naming the
hospital.

Fortunately, the person was admitted at another hospital in a
nearby area, he added.

Soeparmo reiterated that dengue fever sufferers could not go
without first aid medication.

"If they really can not take the sufferers because there is no
room or medicine available, they should still give them an
infusion and quickly transfer the patients to other hospitals,"
he said.

"Please, have a heart. Don't add to the burden of people who
already have problems because of this severe economic condition."

Soeparmo said that the health office predicted the dengue
fever disaster would reach its peak in May this year based on its
five-yearly cycle.

He said people should take preventive measure, including
thorough fumigation.

Conducting a mass fumigation, however, is difficult because
there is not enough equipment.

"Only a limited number of districts have the spraying
equipment," he said. "Besides, fumigation requires quite a lot of
money but it is only effective for a maximum of 10 days."

According to East Jakarta Mayor Soedarsono, fumigation for one
house would cost about Rp 25,000.

In Bogor, head of the City Health Agency Aisjah Wan Granie
said six had died from dengue fever since January and 199 others
were infected.

"Most of the dead were aged under 15," she said.

Aisjah said those infected with the disease were scattered
across 40 villages, with Kebon Pedes, Lawang Gintung, Kedung
Halang, Kedung Waringin, Kedung Badak and Ciparingi among the
most seriously affected. (cst/ind/24)