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