Mayor wants better handling of diarrhea

Mayor wants better handling of diarrhea

North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito has instructed the mayoralty
health office to intensify its efforts to help those suffering
from diarrhea in Panggang island -- one of the Seribu islands, a
newspaper report said.

Suara Pembaruan reported yesterday that the mayor hoped that
the office would be able to get to the bottom of the matter as
soon as possible.

"Our top priority is to send the patients to hospitals and
distribute drinking water," said Pakpahan, a spokesman for the
North Jakarta mayoralty administration.

An outbreak of diarrhea, caused by the dearth of clean
drinking water during the current prolonged dry season, has
killed one person and caused 36 other people to be hospitalized
in Panggang island.

The epidemic has affected area residents since early this
month. It is feared that the disease would spread further and
claim more lives unless prompt and effective medical treatment is
carried out.

The city water company has distributed 35 tons of drinking
water to the diarrhea-affected areas including Pulau, Panggang,
Pramuka, Tidung, Kelapa and Untung subdistricts. (yns)