Protracted drought causes increase in diarrhea cases
Protracted drought causes increase in diarrhea cases
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Prolonged drought continues to pose hazards to people in the
Central Kalimantan capital of Palangkaraya, with an increase in
diarrhea.
The increase in the cases of diarrhea will compound the health
problems people are facing due to haze which has blanketed the
town for most of the past few months.
Antara reported that more people have seen doctors at local
community health centers with complaints of diarrhea, some of
them severely dehydrated.
The Dr. Doris Sylvanus General Hospital also saw an increase
in the number of patients suffering from acute diarrhea.
Head of the local health agency Zulkifli said diarrhea
affected children below the age of five the most.
The office data revealed that diarrhea affected 302 people in
June, up from 235 in May. Zulkifli warned of a sharp increase in
the number of people affected by the disease if no enough
measures were taken to improve hygiene. Diarrhea is often a
symptom of dysentery or other diseases caused by contaminated
water or food due to poor hygiene.
"An increase in diarrhea is quite normal during drought, but
it should not be taken lightly," Zulkifli said.
A medical observer, Norsanie Dahlan, said remote areas, in
particular Lampeong subdistrict in North Barito regency and areas
near the border with East Kalimantan, were more affected. The
areas are home to the Dayak Lawangan, Bakumpai and Bantian
tribes.
Norsanie, who has conducted a number of studies on the local
tribes, suggested that the local government send more medical
workers to the isolated villages to help protect them from
drought-related illnesses.
Palangkaraya people woke up to a thick haze on Saturday after
rains in the previous few days doused forest and bush fires.
The haze on Saturday almost resulted in the death of a driver,
Anang, after his truck smashed into a traffic circle on Jl. RTA
Milono and slipped into the water that filled the traffic circle
at dawn.
Anang was sent to Dr. Doris Sylvanus General Hospital but was
discharged later in the day. His colleague survived the crash
unhurt.
The accident took place around 4:30 a.m. local time as Anang
was heading for the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin after
dropping cattle food at Turi traditional market in Palangkaraya.
Anang, a native of Martapura in South Kalimantan, said poor
visibility due to the haze and a flat tire caused him to lose
control of his vehicle.
Witnesses said they thought the crash was fatal.