70 People Experience DHF In Asmat Regency, Health Office Admits Constraints On Residents' Habit Of Storing Rainwater In Lartic-Prone Buckets

Inspection of dengue mosquito larvae in a resident's water reservoir in Agats District, Asmat Regency, Papua, Friday, July 22. (Inter-Asmat Health Office)

PAPUA - The Asmat District Health Office (Dinkes), Papua Province stated that as many as 70 residents of the area are currently reported to have dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Head of the Asmat District Health Office Jonathan Kambu admitted that there had been an increase in dengue cases and currently attacking three districts in Asmat, namely Agast, Jetsy and Suru-suru Districts.

"Of the 70 cases recorded, one person died and currently two people are being treated at the Agast Hospital and one person is referred to the Timika Regional Hospital and 14 outpatients," he said when contacted, Friday, July 22.

He explained that the status of extraordinary events (KLB) of DHF in Asmat Regency had occurred since June 18, 2022.

The Asmat Health Office is currently continuing to educate the public as well as fumigating and administering mosquito larvae killing drugs.

"Health officers continue to visit people's homes to educate people so that water reservoirs are closed so they don't become mosquito nests," said Jonathan.

Head of the Surveillance and Immunization Section of the Health Office, Asmat Darsono, added that his party encountered problems when asking the public to implement 3M. The reason is that clean water in Asmat Regency is still difficult to obtain.

He explained, generally people in Asmat store clean water in reservoirs, buckets or any other place that can accommodate the water obtained when it rains.

"He admits that he is in a dilemma to ask the public to dispose of the water they hold when it is known that there are mosquito larvae, so they hope that the water reservoir is closed," said Darsono.