Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono on Tuesday saw off the humanitarian medical team at its point of departure at his office.
Agung said the catastrophic floods that occurred in Pakistan recently had caused widespread dengue fever outbreaks.
"After the number of dengue-affected people reached approximately 6000, the Pakistani government was forced to close local schools, while dengue fatalities have already occurred in Punjab and Lahore," Agung said.
Therefore, Indonesia was sending its humanitarian aid and a team of medical workers to Pakistan to help mitigate the impact of the flooding disaster.
"We are sending the humanitarian medical team also in response to a request from the Pakistani government," he said.
Indonesia was considered by Pakistan as a friend who had successfully handled dengue fever when massive floods hit Jakarta in 2002.
The mission to Pakistan was considered by Indonesian health workers as a challenge and an opportunity to be recognized internationally not only in the field of curative health services but also as a comprehensive treatment team for infectious disease outbreaks.
"Hopefully the team can uphold Indonesia`s good name, always abide by the code of ethics and professionalism and not forget to honor and respect local cultural values," he said.
The minister also said the medical team to Pakistan would be an advance group which would be followed later by a larger health care team.
Currently the team consists of the epidemiology team, a team of Environmental Health and Community Empowerment Ministry of Health, the University of Indonesia`s medical faculty entomology consultants, the Cipto Mangunkusumo health care and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs team.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
