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.