Hospitals and community health centers have been put on standby for 24 hours from Day-7 to Day+7 of Idul Fitri holidays.
Free medical checkups have been made available for passengers and bus drivers to make sure that they are in good health before making long journeys to home towns.
This year, some 15.5 million Muslims are estimated to join the Idul Fitri "mudik", an annual tradition that makes the government extremely busy with preparing among other things transportation means and security measures for the people who are on the move en masse.
Last year`s Idul Fitri, there had been 1,519 traffic accidents claiming 342 lives, 461 people were seriously and 938 others lightly injured from Day-7 to Day+7 of Idul Fitri. The traffic accidents caused material losses estimated at Rp6 billion.
Health condition of bus drivers in particular is one of important factors to help prevent traffic accidents.
Therefore, some regions such as Banten, Aceh, Central Java and West Java Provinces, have decided to carry out urine tests to assure they are not under influence of drugs or alcohol.
At Merak ferry port, Banten, tens of bus drivers had to pass urine tests conducted by personnel of the Banten Seaport`s health office, before they were allowed to load their buses into ferries.
"The urine tests that we are conducted, are meant for the safety of passengers," said Erwin Hitlanka, a local official of the Merak harbor where thousands of people wanting to cross to Sumatra Island from Java, recently.
Police in Pekalongan, Central Java, also conducted urine test on bus drivers at the city`s bus terminal. Pekalongan police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Toni Harsono said no less than 50 inter-city and inter-province bus drivers had been tested.
The health condition of passengers has also become a concern as some regions want make sure that home-bound travelers could have enjoy smooth and convenient journeys.
In Medan, North Sumatra Province, community health centers and Dr Pirngadi Regional General Hospital have been put on standby for 24 hours a day before the Idul Fitri Muslim festivity.
Medan Mayor Rahudman Harahap has instructed Dr Pirngadi Hospital and community health centers to provide optimal services for the people during Idul Fitri.
"Nurses and doctors have been put on standby, too. Like on normal days, the Emergency Unit is open 24 hours and doctors are ready as usual. The difference is Muslim doctors are given priority to have holidays during Idul Fitri," Edison, the hospital`s spokesman, said here on Monday.
Mayor Rahudman Harahap earlier said all medical personnel in community health centers and Dr Pirngadi Hospital must give the best medical services to those needing medical treatment.
In Bengkulu Province, Sumatra Island, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)`s Bengkulu branch is providing free medical checkups for home-bound travelers and drivers at several bus terminals, seaports, and airports.
"The free medical checkups are carried out to help home-bound travelers remain healthy so they can have smooth a journey," Fitri of the PMI`s Bengkulu office said on Monday.
The medical checkups consisted of among other things blood pressure, pulse and respiration monitoring procedures.
PMI also was helping to make sure that bus drivers were in good health condition when doing their job. Standard medicines were given by PMI Bengkulu to those needing them.
In addition to the medical check-up services, the PMI Bengkulu has also mobilized 30 volunteers to help facilitate the Idul Fitri exodus ("mudik"), according to Teguh Roni of the PMI Bengkulu.
Free medical checkups are also provided by PT Jasa Raharja insurance company that has set up a free medical service post at Kuala Kapuas bus terminal, Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan Province, to serve bus drivers and Idul Fitri home-bound travelers.
"This activity is aimed at making sure that drivers and passengers wanting to travel to their home-towns for Idul Fitri 1432 Hijriah at Kuala Kapuas Terminal are in good health," Parman of the Jasa Rajarja medical service post, said here on Monday.
The free medical service post has been in operational since Day-7 until Day+7 of Idul Fitri Muslim festivity.
In West Kalimantan, home-bound travelers have been urged to wear face masks to protect them from respiratory problems caused by the pervasive haze from forest fires in the region.
"I suggest that people wear face masks when traveling. Don`t forget to make the face masks wet to prevent ash particles from entering the respiratory tract," Titus Nursiwan of the Kubu Raya health office said on Monday.
All community health centers in Kubu Raya District would be put on standby during the Idul Fitri Muslim festivity to help people who need medical treatment, he said.
"Weather conditions currently are not good because of the heat and haze. We know that people will do a lot of out-door activities during Idul Fitri, especially on Idul Fitri eve but it will be at risk of developing respiratory problems," he said.
The current dry season could also trigger a diarrhea epidemic in West Kalimantan, he said.
Nursyam Mkas, secretary to the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI)`s West Kalimantan chapter, said the haze which had increased lately, could affect people`s respiratory system. When someone was attacked by shortness of breath, he or she must be immediately admitted to a nearby hospital because without medical help, the sufferer could die 30 minutes, he said.
"In addition to avoiding haze, people should also consume fresh fruits and vegetables containing fibers as well as multivitamins to increase their bodies` resistance," he said.(*)
HAJM/O001/F001
Reporter: Fardah
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
