Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 09:28 AM UTC

Indonesia mobilizes 2,106 health workers as forest fires worsen

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M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari

The Ministry of Health has mobilized thousands of healthcare workers and distributed millions of medical supplies to address the health impacts of forest and land fires affecting seven provinces and 63 districts and cities.

“In response to this situation, the government has mobilized 2,106 healthcare workers and strengthened health services, referral systems, and disease monitoring in affected areas,” ministry spokesperson Widyawati said in a statement on Thursday.

The response has also been reinforced through large-scale distribution of medical supplies, including approximately 3 million masks, oxygen concentrators, medicines, and personal protective equipment (PPE), to ensure healthcare services remain effective.

Widyawati said the accelerated response aims to mitigate health risks posed by deteriorating air quality in affected communities.

Monitoring data from 37 Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) stations showed alarming air quality levels in several regions, with 13 areas classified as hazardous, 11 as very unhealthy, and 13 as unhealthy.

The impact of the haze has been reflected in a rise in respiratory illnesses. Ministry of Health data showed that a cumulative 277,075 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) had been recorded as of October 12, 2026.

Of these, 62,400 cases involved children aged zero to five, making them a priority for medical treatment by healthcare teams in the field.

Previously, Aji Muhawarman, head of the ministry’s Public Communications and Information Bureau, said prolonged haze could also cause mental health problems, stress, and anxiety as it disrupts socioeconomic activities, education, and work.

People who must spend time outdoors are advised to wear properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirators to filter out fine particles. Local governments have also been urged to provide smoke-safe spaces equipped with appropriate air filtration systems and access to healthcare services, particularly for infants, young children, and pregnant women.

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