Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 10:37 AM UTC

Govt optimizes health response for residents affected by forest fires

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Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari

The government continues to monitor the health of residents affected by forest and land fires and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to optimize public health services.

Assistant Deputy for Coordination of Strength, Capabilities, and Defense Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, Brigadier General Kresno Pratowo, said that addressing the impact of the fires also focuses on community recovery, including from a health perspective.

"We are prioritizing health monitoring, including tracking the number of people affected by acute respiratory infections (ARI). We are also identifying the most effective measures to ensure a smooth recovery," he said in a discussion on Wednesday.

He then stressed the need to monitor residents exposed to haze, assess their health conditions, and ensure appropriate protective measures.

He also underscored the importance of wearing masks in areas affected by forest and land fires, noting that some residents were still not using them.

Therefore, he called for stronger oversight to ensure that health protection measures, including the use of masks, were properly implemented.

Pratowo added that coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Health, was essential to monitor the health impacts on affected communities and determine appropriate response measures.

The government also continues to safeguard communities affected by forest and land fires by monitoring air quality, issuing health advisories, preparing for distance learning, and adjusting learning arrangements when air pollution reaches hazardous levels, he said.

Moreover, health services were strengthened through oxygen stations along with the mobilization of logistics, medical equipment, and medicines for the community and vulnerable groups.

In handling forest and land fires, his office plays a central role as the driving force, controller, and supervisor of all agencies involved in the Forest and Land Fire Mitigation Desk.

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