The Minister Of Health Is Planning To Map The Need For Anti-venom Serum

Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health plans to map the need for anti-venom serum following the appearance of a swarm of snakes that have raised concerns among residents in a number of areas.

"I'll check later, because the snake vaccine is individual. Depending on the region, which area (needs) the most, we encourage it," said Health Minister Lt. Gen. TNI (ret), dr. Terawan Agus Putranto at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Jakarta, Friday 20 December.

He said that the threat of attack by wildlife in each area is different, not all of them face poisonous snakes. "Because of that, we will map which areas are most affected by snakes. Maybe in Jakarta there are also those close to here," said Terawan.

The former head of the Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital, Jakarta, said that mapping the need for anti-venom serum is important to ensure that its procurement and distribution is right on target.

"It must be adjusted to the nature of the threat. If there is no threat, why do you provide it? It is wasteful. The deployment (the spread) must be targeted," said Terawan.

Entering the rainy season, cobra herds appear in a number of areas, including in Jember and Jakarta.

Hospitals in Jakarta provide snake anti-venom serum services, including Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Tarakan Hospital, and Cempaka Putih Islamic Hospital in Central Jakarta.

Anti-venom serum services are also available at RSPI Sulianti Saroso and Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital (North Jakarta); Cengkareng Hospital and Mitra Keluarga Kalideres Hospital (West Jakarta); Fatmawati Hospital, Pasar Minggu Hospital, Jati Padang Hospital and Suyoto Hospital (South Jakarta); and RSUD Kepulauan Seribu in Kepulauan Seribu.