Respiratory ills in Palangkaraya

JAKARTA (JP): The number of people suffering from respiratory problems in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, has risen substantially over the past two weeks as the city remains blanketed by choking haze, an environmental activist says.

Nurdin, the executive director of the East Kalimantan chapter of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), said on Friday that data compiled from four public health centers in the city revealed the amount of sufferers treated for respiratory problems over the last two weeks reached 1,000.

He told The Jakarta Post that the preceding number of people seeking treatment at the public health clinics for the previous two-week period was 500.

"This total does not include those treated at hospitals," he said.

Haze from forest fires in Central Kalimantan has shown no signs of declining, and has prompted the provincial government to call on residents to wear face masks.

In the worst hit areas, the thick haze, which occurs every year due to forest fires caused mainly by land-clearing activities, frequently affects visibility.

Nurdin said that the level of hazardous particles registering on the air pollution monitor installed in downtown Palangkaraya reached 102-160 particles per micron (p/m), far higher than the reading of 40-60 p/m for normal conditions.

People intending to go outdoors have been warned to wear a face mask to avoid respiratory infection.

"Unfortunately, many locals can't afford to buy proper masks. They only wrap a piece of clothing around their face, which actually doesn't filter out any particles," he said.

Nurdin, therefore, urged the local administration to pay attention to health services. "My throat is hurting, too," he said. (08)