Malinau Health Office Distributes Masks to Protect Public from Haze
The Malinau Regency Department of Health, Population Control, and Family Planning (DKPPKB) is distributing masks to the community as an effort to protect citizens from the impacts of haze caused by forest and land fires (karhutla).
“To support public protection efforts, DKPPMB Malinau currently holds a stock of 2,200 boxes of masks, with each box containing 50 masks,” said the Head of DKPPKB Malinau, Yuli Triana, in Malinau, North Kalimantan, on Tuesday.
She emphasised that the masks are not only being distributed to residents in urban areas but efforts are also being made to reach remote and border regions, adjusting for accessibility and transport conditions.
DKPPKB Malinau is also continuing to anticipate the possibility of prolonged haze by preparing steps to increase mask stocks.
Yuli stated that haze can impact public health, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with histories of respiratory diseases.
Therefore, she urged the public to wear masks when outdoors. Additionally, she advised residents to increase their water intake, reduce outdoor activities, and keep doors and windows closed to minimise smoke entering homes.
She noted that one of the diseases that must be watched for due to haze exposure is acute respiratory infection (ISPA), which has the potential to affect children specifically.
Through these measures, Yuli continued, the government hopes the public can increase vigilance and implement preventive steps to reduce the risk of health disturbances caused by haze exposure.
Malinau Regional Secretary Ernes Silvanus revealed that, based on information received from the Malinau Regency Environmental Office (DLH), there is air movement from the Berau and Tanjung Selor regions towards Malinau, which is suspected of bringing haze to the area.
This condition has even begun to disrupt air transport. Limited visibility has caused flights to Malinau to be unable to operate.
He also requested that the public, including farmers and cultivators, increase their awareness and immediately report any activities that could potentially cause fires.
He noted that the recurrence of haze should serve as a collective lesson. He assessed that supervision of activities that could trigger fires needs to be strengthened, involving the community, businesses, and other parties.
“This is a lesson for all of us. Such incidents occurred several years or even decades ago. Therefore, collective awareness and supervision must continue to be increased,” said Ernes.