Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, September 21, 2026 at 08:32 AM

Health Ministry deploys 1,898 workers to fight fire health risks

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Mecca Yumna, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Health Ministry deployed 1,898 healthcare workers and distributed medical supplies to regions experiencing elevated health risks, including acute respiratory infections (ARI), from forest and land fires.

As of Sept. 16, 2026, over 151,000 ARI cases were reported across seven provinces and 63 districts. The ministry dispatched healthcare personnel to affected provinces to expand medical access for more than 13 million residents.

"This step is taken to bring medical care closer to affected communities, while supporting and reinforcing local health workers who have been working tirelessly from the start," Health Ministry Spokesperson Widyawati said in Jakarta on Monday.

To support field operations and medical responses, the ministry distributed logistical aid as of Sept. 16, 2026, including 1,927,554 masks, 280 oxygen concentrators, and 36 oxygen tanks.

The deployment also included 328 boxes of supplementary food alongside medical supplies and immunity-boosting vitamins.

She explained that oxygen concentrators and tanks were prioritized for health facilities in areas hit hardest by fires, such as South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and Riau.

As part of comprehensive preparedness efforts, the ministry placed local health facilities on full alert, including 1,691 community health centers (puskesmas), 360 referral hospitals, and 87 public health laboratories for rapid medical treatment and air quality testing.

The ministry expressed commitment to optimizing medical logistics distribution to protect public health while urging communities to limit outdoor activities and wear masks.

"Vulnerable groups like babies, toddlers, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with preexisting conditions like asthma and heart disease are the top priority for medical care and protection during this forest and land fire emergency response," Widyawati said.

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