Flood Survivors In A Number Of Points In Sukabumi City Are Starting To Get ARI And Itching

Health workers from the Sukabumi City Health Office, West Java are checking the health condition of a flood survivor (Photo Via Antara)

SUKABUMI - Flood survivors at a number of points in Sukabumi City, West Java, such as in Tugu Village and Sudajaya Village, Jayaraksa Village, began to suffer from acute respiratory infections (ARI) and itching.

Health workers from the Sukabumi City Health Office and the local Puskesmas assisted by volunteers carry out daily sweeps to check the health conditions of flood survivors.

"We have examined hundreds of residents, and most of them complain of ARI and itching," said Head of Health Services for Sukabumi City, Lulis Delawati, to reporters in Sukabumi, Antara, Monday, February 21.

According to Lulis, to ease the suffering of the victims affected by the flood due to the overflowing of the Cisuda River, his party has alerted health workers who are ready 24 hours to help residents and provide medicines.

The number of flood-affected residents who experience ARI and itching is due to the condition of the area that there is still a lot of mud and garbage, not to mention the limited supply of clean water.

To anticipate the spread of COVID-19 in disaster areas, the local Health Office will conduct an antigen swab test for flood victims, so that the health conditions of the survivors can be known and if anyone is exposed to the corona virus, it can be treated immediately.

"Usually after a disaster, affected residents are vulnerable to disease, especially when this coincides with the peak of the third wave of the spread of COVID-19, making it prone to transmission," he added.

Lulis said that not only survivors, officers and volunteers who were providing various assistance at disaster locations were also vulnerable to being exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, it is advised to always implement strict health protocols, such as wearing masks and always maintaining body hygiene, especially hands.