"BGN and all relevant parties continue to work hard to ensure the best handling and carry out a thorough investigation into the incident," Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of BGN Khairul Hidayati said in a statement here on Sunday.
As of Saturday, the total number of food poisoning patients hospitalized has reached 335 people since the first case was reported on Wednesday (September 17).
Director of Trikora Regional Public Hospital, Feldy Deki, stated that of the number, 301 patients have recovered and returned home, while the other 34 are still undergoing treatment with symptoms of shortness of breath and muscle cramps.
"The hospital has provided maximum handling by providing medicines and medical treatment in accordance with the symptoms of each patient," he remarked.
To strengthen services, the hospital has received additional medical personnel support from the dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Central Public Hospital of Makassar.
"This support is essential and valuable for us, the patients' families, and the patients themselves, especially in terms of psychological support. We appreciate the quick measures of all parties that have focused on handling this incident," he said.
A Health Ministry medical team representative, Rusmin, ensured that the hospitalized patients' conditions were stable, adding that based on feces examination and history taking, there were no signs of nerve damage or serious health problems.
BGN has ensured that it will move quickly to handle the patients through intensive coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Military, the Government Communication Office, and regional governments.
The agency is also investigating the nutritional fulfillment service units (SPPG), which provide food to the free meals program, together with the police.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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