Minister Of Health Urges Residents To Wear Masks To Prevent The Impact Of Pollution

Screenshot/Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin appealed to the public to use masks to prevent respiratory problems caused by air pollution.

"We suggest that the standard masks are at least KF94 or KF95, because (particles) that are dangerous PM2.5 can enter to the blood vessels," said Minister of Health Budi after attending a limited meeting on air pollution led by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 28.

If you already feel or complain about respiratory pain, the Minister of Health asks the public to immediately check at the nearest health center or hospital.

"Later, we will educate the doctors if the handling (respiratory disorders) is like what. We will also cooperate with Friendship Hospital as the coordinator of hospitals and health centers in Jabodetabek, so it is hoped that if there are (residents) who enter the puskesmas or hospitals, the diagnosis and treatment will be the same," said Budi.

In the meeting, Minister of Health Budi reported to President Jokowi about six respiratory problems that can be triggered by air pollution, namely pneumonia, acute respiratory tract infections (ARI), asthma, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, and tuberculosis.

The diseases caused by respiratory problems are said to have burdened BPJS Kesehatan up to Rp10 trillion.

In order to respond to the impact of air pollution which is currently raging in the Greater Jakarta area, the Ministry of Health has formed a Committee for Combating Air Respiratory Diseases and Pollution.

The results of disease surveillance that arise from the impact of air pollution in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) are the increase in ARI cases which reaches an average of 200 thousand cases per month.

The data was compiled from reports from service officers at health centers and hospitals in the local area in the past month.

The Ministry of Health together with the committee also conduct regular surveillance every week to monitor the rate of cases of ARI and pneumonia in health centers and hospitals, along with the implementation of an early alert system and response.