Post-flood diseases hit Gresik

GRESIK, East Java: The floodwaters have subsided in the East Java regency of Gresik, but the misery that the local residents have to bear is far from over. After the flooding, local people are now facing a new problem: the spread of respiratory and skin ailments, and diarrhea.

Data issued by the Cerme district community health center 10 days ago showed that 14 people were suffering from diarrhea, 114 from skin problems and 149 from respiratory ailments.

On the same day, data released by the neighboring Duduksampeyan community health center showed that 9 people were suffering from diarrhea, 25 from skin problems and 169 from respiratory ailments. The number of people suffering from these problems in Duduksampeyan district had risen three days later to 13 people with diarrhea and 29 with skin problems. The number rose again on Tuesday to 18 people with diarrhea, 51 with skin problems and 177 with respiratory ailments.

Soegeng Widodo, an official with the Gresik Health Agency, said that his agency would deploy more medical personnel and distribute more cheap medicines to community health centers across the regency to help local people fight the health problems they were facing.

Gresik, like other parts of East Java province, has been badly hit by flooding since early this year. The floodwaters started to subside two weeks ago. -- JP