Dredging Is Not Just A Portrait Of Poverty

JAKARTA The case of deworming that occurred in several areas has shocked the public again. This phenomenon not only shows the problem of poverty, but also the government which also carries out its role.

Two toddlers, namely Aa (4) and Ka (1 year 8 months), in Bengkulu are known to have severe deworming. This was discovered when Ka had a fever and cough for four days and did not recover.

Ka's parents took him to RDUD Tais on Sunday (14/9/2025). When he was treated, the worm came out of Ka's mouth and nose. His health condition decreased, he was short of breath and restless.

After X-raying, there are worm larvae in Ka's lungs. There is also a worm clot in his intestines, "said Eva Debora Siahaan, Director of ESUD Tais Seloni.

From the X-ray hasl, it is also known that there are egg spots and worm larvae in Aa's lungs. The worm dish also, said Eva, was found in her intestines.

With conditions like this, worms cannot be removed normally through bowel movements (BAB). So, the only way to remove worms with surgery. If it is too late, the risk is large, it can cause a coma to death due to larvae or worms can continue to spread to the brain.

What happened to these two toddlers in Bengkulu brought us back considering the death of Raya, a toddler girl from Pandangeyan Village, Cianaga Village, Kabandungan District, Sukabumi Regency, who died last July.

Raya breathed her last on July 22, 2025 due to severe deworming. Raya's condition was first discovered by the non-governmental organization Rumah Teduh Sahaba IIn. When taken to the hospital, the worm came out of the nose, mouth, and anus Raya.

Both Raya and two toddlers in Bengkulu have something in common. They come from a prosperous family, living in an uninhabitable house. The house of two toddlers in Bengkulu, on the ground floor and walls of reyot wood. Sanitation is also bad. The disposal site and impurity shelter are adjacent to the well or clean water source. The house is also adjacent to the chicken coop.

The worms, according to some circles, have close ties to poverty, access to clean water, and a clean lifestyle for the community.

The poor tend to live in an environment with poor sanitation. According to the World Health Organization, deworming is included in the category of negative tropical diseases (NTDs) or neglected tropical solvers caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms.

WHO assesses that the existence of NTDs is a marker of the economic status of a country, because NTDs generally regarding the low-income population segment, poor families.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are still 236 regencies/cities in 28 provinces in Indonesia that are endemic to filariasis, with nearly 10 thousand chronic cases spread across various regions.

After the incident of two children under five of severe deworming siblings in Bengkulu surfaced, the ranks of the district and provincial governments devoted their attention to their patients and families. The local government promised to provide the best treatment for patients, rebuild houses, and help the patient's family economy, and spread worm medicine in the patient's home village to anticipate endemics.

The government, which provides a quick response to cases of deworming, should be appreciated. But in the long term, the government is required not only to be reactive to these problems. There must be systemic changes in unraveling the root of social problems or poverty in society so that the same tragedy does not happen again.

A lecturer majoring in Sociology at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Bengkulu University, Retno Wahyuningtyas said the incident of two children under five who deported severe deworming was more than just a medical problem. For him, this is a mirror of structural inequality that has long been left alone.

Because, from this incident, it was revealed that public access to basic needs includes clean water, decent sanitation, health education, to nutritional intake, is still far from evenly distributed.

"Poverty is indeed a factor causing this event. However, poverty arises because of the policy of state administrators who do not side with the community," said Retno.

The government's response to the viral deworming case shows that the government's work system is still reactive. The approach is still very incidental. Retno likens this government's response to an attempt to extinguish the ongoing fire.

So far, he has not seen a real preventive plan from the government. Without the change in the ongoing prevention system, this reactive government response is only a short-term solution. It is not impossible, in the long term this event is repeated.

"State administrators cannot continue to depend on virality to solve social problems in society. They must continue to work without having to be highlighted by the camera. It is important for them to apply the principle of one left behind (no one party is left behind)," he said.

Reflecting on this case, Retno hopes that the government will change its perspective on overcoming a social problem. At least, they should not see the health program for the community as a project, but as an ecosystem.

The government is also asked to involve the community in program planning for the community. One of them is establishing communication with people who really need help, especially in suburban or remote areas. Then, there must be regular supervision and assistance to ensure the program runs and is right on target.

"Essentially, put forward empathy in dealing with social problems experienced by the community," said Retno.