Not Because Of Air Pollution, 3,830 Cirebon Residents Reportedly Exposed To ISPA

Illustration of patients in the treatment of ARI (ANTARA)

CIREBON - Cirebon Regency Government said that throughout 2023 there were 3,830 residents who had acute respiratory tract infections (ARI). The disease is not due to pollution.

Based on data from the Cirebon District Health Office (Dinkes), the most cases of ARI in Cirebon Regency occurred in Greged District with the number of cases reaching 202.

Apart from Greged District, the most cases of ISPA are Tanal District, Cirebon Regency border with Cirebon City. This area recorded 126 cases.

The Sub-Coordinator of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (P2PM) of the Cirebon District Health Office, Lukman said, the thousands of cases that occurred throughout 2023 were not due to pollution like in DKI Jakarta.

According to Lukman, the ISPA incident occurred due to viral or bacterial infections in the respiratory tract.

"When we visited several health centers, the ARI was not due to pollution. The air in Cirebon Regency was still maintained," said Lukman, Friday, September 15.

Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) through the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control issued Circular Letter (SE) number: HK.02.02/C/3628/2023 concerning Control of the Impact of Air Pollution on Health.

The letter was addressed to the provincial, district/city health offices, hospital directors, port health offices, B/BTKLPP, and puskesmas.

In the letter, the Ministry of Health urged local governments to involve the active role of the community in efforts to overcome respiratory disorders and illnesses.

This happens because air pollution is an issue of cross-border (transboundary) which means they do not recognize the time limit, location, and generation.

Therefore, handling pollution must require coordination between stakeholders, both the central government, local governments, the private sector, including the community.