According to a presentation made by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin during a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Wednesday, the prepared health facilities comprise 674 community health centers (puskesmas) and 66 hospitals.
The ministry has also readied the Persahabatan Central General Hospital (RSUP) in Jakarta.
"We have asked professional organizations and collegiums of pulmonary specialist doctors to educate puskesmas doctors to understand lung diseases because URTI can be treated at puskesmas, and we will ensure that the equipment is available," he said in a written statement released here on Wednesday.
Pneumonia, meanwhile, must be handled at hospitals because it requires an X-ray device to diagnose, he added. He assured that pneumonia treatment can be carried out at all hospitals in Jabodetabek.
He further said that the puskesmas are spread across several regions in Jabodetabek, namely 333 in Jakarta, 44 in Tangerang District, 39 in Tangerang City, 38 in Depok City, 25 in Bogor City, 101 in Bogor District, 48 in Bekasi City, and 46 in Bekasi District.
The Ministry of Health has also been active in preparing promotive and preventive efforts, including educating the community about the symptoms of URTI.
In addition, people are being encouraged to wear masks while carrying out outdoor activities when the air quality is poor.
"We give the recommendation to wear a mask that can filter PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) because this is the smallest," he said.
"If outside, (people) can use a KF 94 or KN 95 mask, but if indoors, (people) should use an air purifier to clean the dust from outside," he added.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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