Post-flood diseases hit Gresik

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