Lack of health access hinders treatment

Lack of health access hinders treatment

Marsiyah, 34, of Kelor village, sits beside the camp bed at the
Sepatan public health center where her seven-year-old son Badrian
lay.

A drip has been attached to his lithe body for the past five
days to prevent him becoming dehydrated as a result of the
diarrhea he is suffering.

Doctors said Badrian could soon leave the public health center
as his condition was improving.

"I was almost too late. I did not realize that my son's
disease was so serious. Besides, it was also difficult to get
transportation from home to the public health center. Ojek
(motorcycle taxi) is the only mode of transportation available,"
Marsiyah said.

The village is indeed isolated, with no access for cars.

This is similar to seven other villages most affected by the
diarrhea outbreak in both Sepatan and Pakuhaji districts, The
Jakarta Post observed on Friday.

Endeh, 42, a resident of Rawa Boni village that is some three
kilometers from the Pakuhaji public health center, said the lack
of transportation had made it difficult for residents to get
immediate medical help.

"I had to walk while carrying my daughter from my house to the
health center because there was no transportation at all. The
road is badly damaged," he said.

He acknowledged that his child might have got the disease from
contaminated drinking water. They usually obtaining their
drinking water from a two-meter deep well Endeh made behind his
small house.

Indeed, road access is not the only obstacle, with public
awareness of health in agricultural villages being very
inadequate.

Most residents consume water from shallow wells, locally known
as sumur tublek. The wells are between two and four meters deep.
They often build bathrooms and toilets right next to these open
wells.

Since the wells are not surrounded by walls, water used for
washing and bathing can enter into the wells. -- JP