Malaria cancels community program

PURBALINGGA, Central Java: Over 220 students from Muhammadiyah University, Purwokerto, have canceled their community service mission in Pengadegan district due to a malaria outbreak.

The students pulled out of the villages in the district just a week after their arrival for a two-month program.

Head of the local community health center Yusuf Sutrisno said the outbreak occurred in Tetel and Pingen subdistricts, affecting 92 people since the first case was detected last April, with more to come.

In his letter dated Aug. 3, Yusuf suggested the university administrators withdraw the students for the sake of their health.

University official in charge of the program Pamujo said the withdrawal began on Monday.

He regretted the belated information from the local health agency about the outbreak, adding that the university had spent a lot on preparations for and implementation of the program.

"Had we known it beforehand, we could have looked for other locations," he said.

The most recent malaria outbreak, which hit Banyumas and its surrounding towns at the end of last year, killed 107 people. --JP