Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's daily cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) from forest and land fires have fallen to about 3,000 from 10,000 to 15,000, with 333,470 cumulative cases as of October 22, the health minister said.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Thursday his ministry is distributing masks, with 1.6 million needed in total and delivery expected to be completed next week.
"The initial treatment involves oxygen therapy. We must provide oxygen cylinders with tubing or oxygen concentrators, which will also be distributed to the regions within the next one to two weeks," he said.
He wants all regions with a red or black Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) rating to have these facilities. His ministry is also distributing medicines to treat affected people.
The improvement was reflected in the number of districts and cities with red or black ISPU levels falling to 22 from 50, he said.
He urged the public to stay vigilant because air quality in several areas remains hazardous to health. The ministry continues to monitor ARI cases and other health impacts in affected areas.
Sadikin said the main preventive measure is to limit outdoor activities, particularly when air quality worsens. People who must go outside should wear masks.
The ministry also continues to coordinate with regional health offices to monitor case developments and identify logistical needs in each region.
Separately, Dr. Ten Suyanti, the ministry's director of environmental health, said hundreds of oxygen centers and mobile services were ready to help people with respiratory problems caused by haze exposure.
The oxygen centers are dedicated rooms or buildings equipped with oxygen supplies, provided through oxygen concentrators or conventional oxygen cylinders.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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