Malaria drives resettlers out

Malaria drives resettlers out

BATULICIN, East Kalimantan: Hundreds industrial forest
inhabitants in Trans Satui, Kotabaru district, have fled the area
since January owing to an outbreak of malaria.

A forestry company official told Antara news agency over the
weekend that seven people died of malaria recently, while dozens
of other people left the area to seek medical help in the Ulin
Banjarmasin hospital.

A spokesman at a local forestry company, however, said that
the people, who are mostly resettlers from other provinces, left
because they couldn't make a living at the resettlement site.

A health worker, Lamenan Gunawan, said that about 80 percent
of the 400 resettlers have shown symptoms of malaria, while 41
people have been diagnosed with the disease.

Kotabaru regent Amras Bektam said his office has dispatched a
team of medical workers, as well as food supplies, because many
of the resettlers were also malnourished.

The local office of the Ministry of Transmigration has
promised to continue assisting the resettlers. (16)