ISPA Rampant Due to Forest Fires, Health Minister Says Oxygen and Masks Distributed to Affected Areas

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has responded to the widespread cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) resulting from forest and land fires (karhutla).

Budi said the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has sent aid in the form of mask drops and oxygen concentrators to areas affected by the fires.

“We have sent a large number of mask drops, that is one. Second, oxygen concentrators,” Budi said, as quoted on Friday, 28 August 2026.

He confirmed that the delivery of aid will be accelerated and distributed to priority community health centres (puskesmas).

“So we will drop oxygen concentrators and masks to the affected puskesmas and we will accelerate that,” he explained.

Previously, House of Representatives (DPR RI) Speaker Puan Maharani said the government has taken several measures to extinguish the forest and land fires. In her view, declaring a national disaster status is not yet necessary.

“At present, coordination measures have already been taken to address this. So I think the government has taken the necessary steps,” Puan said at the DPR Building in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 27 August 2026.

Nevertheless, the DPR has asked the government to anticipate and undertake more effective efforts to handle the forest and land fires.

“Because it is not only about the present moment or the fires themselves, but also what will be done after the fires are extinguished regarding health,” she explained.

“Then children’s education, and rehabilitation not only of the forests, but also of the places affected by the fires,” Puan added.