Touching 2 Million, The Ministry Of Health Is Urged To Strengthen The Prevention System So That ARI Cases Are Not Like COVID-19

Illustration of warta activities using masks during the COVID 19 (ANTARA) pandemic

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Yahya Zaini, highlighted the spike in cases of Acute Respiratory Channel Infection (ISPA) in DKI Jakarta which was reported to have approached two million cases from July to October 2025.

He asked the government, especially the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), to strengthen the Early and Response Alert System (SKDR) to the puskesmas level and primary health facilities.

According to Yahya, this step is important so that the detection and reporting of ARI cases can be carried out faster and more accurately, so that it does not develop like the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Ministry of Health must increase air quality supervision, cooperate with the Ministry of Environment and Local Governments, because pollution factors have strong correlations with the increase in ARI cases," Yahya told reporters in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 21.

He assessed that the increase in ARI cases was a warning of the weakness of the community-based infectious disease prevention system, especially in urban areas with high population density and declining air quality.

"Although the Ministry of Health said the situation was still under control, the upward trend since mid-year showed that there were risk factors that needed to be anticipated immediately," he said.

Yahya encouraged the government to strengthen preventive measures so that ARI cases do not increase.

Uncertain weather conditions, reduced air quality, and decreased community immunity due to fatigue and stress, according to him, can accelerate the spread of disease.

"The approach to prevention must be strengthened, not just treatment," said the Golkar Party Legislator from the East Java VIII electoral district.

He also asked the government to intensify public education about the prevention of ARI, such as the use of masks, maintaining hand hygiene, ensuring good room ventilation, and immediately checking yourself if you experience severe symptoms.

"And ensure the availability of drugs and primary health care facilities, especially in densely populated areas that are most vulnerable to respiratory tract disease transmission," he added.

Yahya emphasized that the surge in ARI cases should not be considered a seasonal cycle. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, should be an important lesson that diseases with flu-like symptoms can develop into a greater public health threat.

"Events such as pandemics can be repeated if the ISPA case is not handled with a data-based and prevention approach. Strengthen the role of puskesmas as the front line for the community," he said.

He ensured that Commission IX of the DPR RI would continue to carry out its supervisory function of national health policies and ensure that the government was responsive to the potential outbreaks that emerged.

"Public health protection is the constitutional responsibility of the state. The increase in ARI cases this time must be a momentum to strengthen the preparedness of the national health system from upstream to downstream," he concluded.