Head of the West Lombok District Health Office, H. Rahman Sahnan Putra, in West Lombok, Saturday, said that since the discovery of four malaria cases in Bukit Tinggi Village, Gunung Sari Sub-district, the number of victims had spread to other villages and sub-districts.
"There were 32 victims detected with malaria only in the work area of the Penimbung Health Center, Gunungsari District," he said.
Data from West Lombo District Health Office, as many as 103 positive people got malaria with the spread reaching 28 hamlets, 10 villages, and 4 working areas of the puskesmas. Of these, 5 people were forced to be hospitalized because they were already severe.
According to Rahman, the outbreak of malaria in his area can be categorized as an outbreak (KLB) because people who have the disease are also among pregnant women and babies.
He claimed to have discussed the health conditions of the community in the evacuation with Regent H. Fauzan Khalid.
"If the status is increased to KLB, it doesn`t matter," he said.
It has long reported the incident to the Crisis Center of the Ministry of Health, but has not received any response.
"We can only get information from the Directorate General of P2P and the Public Health that will bring down the team," he said.
In addition to the directorate, Rahman claimed to have received support from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), by providing 135 mosquito repellent mosquito nets, but still very lacking.
From the mapping made, at least 10,000 mosquito nets are needed to help the refugees.
"The rest we have to handle the vector," said Rahman who will ask all village heads to immediately eradicate mosquito nests.
West Lombok Regent H. Fauzan Khalid also considered that the determination of the outbreak for malaria cases would not have a big impact as long as the principle of benefit for refugees was greater.
"With the KLB we can better serve the citizens, why not? That`s why we always demand assistance from the temporary shelter," he said, calling the need for only Rp15 billion.
"Our regional budget cannot be used for that," he said. *** 4 *** (E002)
Reporting by Awaludin
Editing by Eliswan
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
