Facing Flood, Health Department Prepares Medicine Stock

To anticipate the flooding possibility, Jakarta Provincial Government has made various preparations in the capital during the rainy season. In addition to setting up 84 health posts which spread around flood prone location, the City Government is also preparing medicines for sick people as a result of flooding. Moreover, Jakarta Health Department makes sure the medicines stock for flood victims is adequate.

The Health Ministry also ready for additional stock

"Today, the medicines stock are safe and will be distributed to 84 points which have also been prepared. The Health Ministry also ready for additional stock ," said Dien Emmawati, Jakarta Health Department Head, Saturday (12/20).

Emmawati continued, a common disease that usually attacks the flood victims are diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, leptospirosis, and acute respiratory infections (ISPA). For that, her side will set up health posts which equipped with ambulances, doctors, and nurses. The health posts will operate for 24 hours.

Community Service Held on Friday and Sunday, Djarot Says

According to Emmawati, the Health Department task not only works during the floods, but also post-flood. Therefore, her side will sterilize the flooding area. "We have enough medicine, most of us will ask help for cleaning and post-flood water purification," she added.

Her side also has coordinated with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for the preparation of flood management. So the post location can be targeted, especially about the camp. "For the posts location, we have coordinated with BPBD," she explained.

Moreover, Emmawati added, the City Government has also been working with 81 hospitals as patients’ referral, such as the Regional General Hospital (RSUD), government hospitals and private hospitals. Patients who cannot be treated in the health posts will be directly referenced.

Based on data from the Health Department, last year's flood affected as many as 37 sub-districts which consist of 125 urban villages, 634 RWa, and 276 thousand citizens. The data will be used as a reference for this year's flood. "We are also working with private companies and TNI, for handling the citizens health during the floods," she said.