Minister checks services for Idul Fitri travelers' healthcare

Jakarta, NU Online
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih here Friday checked preparations for health services for home-bound travelers during the Idul Fitri Islamic festivity.

"Health preparedness along the home-bound routes is urgent because the travelers may need treatment for serious illnesses or life-threatening conditions," the minister said.<<>br />
The health ministry has set up 500 health posts to serve home-bound travelers during the Idul Fitri holidays for 24 hours a day throughout Indonesia.

The step was taken to among other things anticipate possible acute illnesses such as diarrhea and food poisoning.

Along the Java-Lampung route, the government has made available 3,719 community health posts, 1,229 ambulances, 98 state-run hospitals plus ambulances, and 500 health posts consisting of 418 posts from local health services and 82 from local seaport health offices.

The health ministry has also prepared a health information command post located at The Rapid Response and Perceptive Center (PTRC), the Public Communication Center, with phone numbers: 021-500567 and 30413700; and e-mail address at info@depkes.co.id.

Dehydration and communicable diseases are feared to afflict Idul Fitri travelers on their home-bound trips to celebrate the post-fasting holidays.

During the Idul Fitri holiday season last year, the number of home-bound travelers reached about 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million used various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million used private cars and motorcycles. (ant/dar)