Kalimantan smoke causes ailments

Kalimantan smoke causes ailments

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Smoke from bushfires here
has increased the number of patients of respiratory ailments by
35 percent, an official said yesterday.

Head of the local office of the Ministry of Health Fauzi
Darwis told Antara that the patients' main complaints were of the
lingering coughs and colds.

Darwis said the province's 1.6 million population were
currently prone to more respiratory ailments because of the smoke
that has been hanging around the province for months.

The news agency reported that Governor Warsito Rasman had
called on his people to wear protective masks to keep them from
inhaling the smoke.

"At least you will be protected from breathing in dust through
your nose or mouth by wearing the masks," Darwis was quoted as
saying. Central Kalimantan was one of the provinces worst hit by
bushfires this year. (aan)