To Overcome Air Pollution, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Suggests Indonesia Copy China

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin proposed that Indonesia should imitate China in overcoming the problem of air pollution. The Ministry of Health has even sent a letter to President Joko Widodo regarding this matter.

This was said by Budi in a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the DPR Building, Wednesday, August 30.

Initially, Budi revealed China's success in dealing with the air police issue. According to him, China can be used as an example by Indonesia to overcome poor air quality because it has drastically reduced air pollution within 6 to 7 years.

"The best example is China. China can reduce pollution in 6-7 years. After we study, China is the fastest in reducing pollution for the Beijing Olympics so that the event is not bullied and can successfully reduce it in 6-7 years. That's the best in the world," Minister of Health Budi said.

Budi said China has massively increased air quality checks by installing 1,000 devices to monitor air quality in certain areas.

"They installed 1,000 monitors of medium quality but not expensive, the important thing is that the coverage is good. If the air conditions are bad, they will send a car to find the source," said Budi.

"It could be from burning garbage, or transportation, Steam-electric Power Station (PLTU), or maybe the cause of the vehicle. So that way they can make the right intervention. They also know the source is regional or local," he continued.

Budi also explained five intervention steps taken by the Bamboo Curtain country to overcome air pollution problems. Namely, controlling industrial emissions, controlling motor vehicle emissions, controlling dust, monitoring air quality, and reducing health risks and impacts.

"We have sent this to the President's office so we can just imitate this method," he said.

Budi added, the Ministry of Health will focus more on downstream, especially reducing risks and health impacts, as well as assisting in monitoring air quality in health centers.

"We hold health at the downstream, so we hold it at the lower end," he concluded.