Intestinal worms not a major problem for Seribu islanders
Intestinal worms not a major problem for Seribu islanders
JAKARTA (JP): Head of North Jakarta Health Office Sony L.
Tobing denied a remark that most residents of the Seribu Islands
are suffering from intestinal worms.
Sony said the remark, made by a member of the City Council,
was not supported by scientific research and was based mainly on
condition in 1970s.
"Even though my office has not conducted research on this
health problem, I am sure that the situation is much better
now," Sony said on Friday.
He also questioned the source of the remark. "How can we
conclude that a resident suffers from intestinal worms, if he or
she is short of nutrition?" he asked.
According to data at his office, approximately 40 percent of
Seribu islands' residents are suffering from respiratory
diseases, 25 percent from skin diseases and another 19 percent
from nearsightedness.
Sony explained that a community health center in the area also
recorded that 19 out of 100 residents on the Seribu Islands suffer
from anemia.
Sony said that efforts to do research at his office, in a bid to
get more reliable data on health problems in the area, is hindered
mainly by the absence of electricity.
"We need a constant electricity supply to operate our electron
microscopes," he said, adding that the existing electricity supply
is generated mostly by using solar technology and is not adequate to
operate the microscopes.
Sony explained that his office has so far built six public toilet
facilities on four of the biggest islands -- Panggang, Tidung,
Kelapa and Untung Jawa -- in an effort to increase residents'
awareness about health and to reduce the possibility of being
infected by intestinal worms.
Sony admitted that changing the bad habits of local people, who
prefer to relieve themselves on the beach, is time consuming. "We
need volunteers to help educate residents and make them change their
bad habits," he added.
According to Sony, there are of 40 doctors and paramedics working
on the islands serving a total of 15,000 residents. (yns)