Respiratory ills in Palangkaraya

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)