Minister Of Health: WFH Policy To Suppress Vehicle Carbon Emissions

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JAKARTA - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the work from home (WFH) policy aims to reduce the carbon emissions of vehicles amidst the raging pollution in Jabodetabek and its surroundings.

"WFH aims not to keep the community healthier. The goal is to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, because one of the largest is transportation emissions," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, August 25.

According to Budi, the impact of air pollution on health can also be suppressed through the use of masks and dirty air monitoring applications.

"My advice is to monitor the IQAir application with breathing. If the indicator is red (dangerous), it is better to reduce the road to the outside or if you go out wearing a mask, it can reduce us from inhaling pollution particles," said Budi.

He said the most successful health intervention is if the public is willing to realize and maintain their respective health without intervention from the government, including the use of masks which are now not mandatory to the public.

Budi said the responsibility of the Ministry of Health in the government's efforts to overcome pollution was focused on the downstream sector in handling the impact on public health.

"Indeed, in terms of handling, the Ministry of Health is more downstream. How to reduce particles in the air, that's not our field," he said.

Budi said the government had divided the roles of each ministry and institution in efforts to tackle dirty air.

"I participated in a very meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, he more invited the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, because the source was there," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a meeting to discuss the handling of Jakarta air pollution at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday, (14/8).

During the meeting, Jokowi asked office managers to implement a hybrid work system on a WFH basis or work from office/WFO) to reduce air pollution in Jakarta.