Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 02:44 AM

Health Ministry mobilizes fires response for elderly

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Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry is deploying a comprehensive, emergency health response to protect Indonesia’s elderly population from the severe health hazards caused by widespread forest and land fires.

Data from the ministry reveals that dense wildfire smoke—rich in hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)—has driven a surge in respiratory illnesses, recording over 50,000 cases of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ISPA) as of late August.

Nearly 40,000 of those cases occurred among individuals over five years of age, with senior citizens bearing the heaviest brunt.

An estimated 3.8 million elderly residents live across eight provinces severely impacted by the blazes, including West Kalimantan, which has recorded over 16,000 ISPA cases, and Central Kalimantan, reporting more than 6,000.

"The forest fires have proven that an environmental crisis can quickly turn into a health crisis," the ministry’s Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups Imran Pambudi said on Tuesday (September 1).

“The elderly are the most visible face of that vulnerability,” he added.

Imran warned that toxic smoke exposure exacerbates pre-existing conditions in senior citizens, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular illness, and temporary cognitive decline, while significantly increasing mortality risks during major fire events.

To address the situation, the Health Ministry has established emergency posts equipped with oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, and medical supplies at public health centers, referral hospitals, and evacuation sites.

Mass logistics operations are underway, including the distribution of over 267,000 masks to Central Kalimantan and 470,000 to Jambi.

Emergency response teams—including the Public Safety Center (PSC) 119 hotline and health reserve personnel—remain on high alert for rapid evacuations, while real-time health surveillance systems continue to monitor respiratory illness trends among vulnerable populations.

The government is also prioritizing mental health support and caregiver training to recognize critical warning signs like chest pain and sudden confusion.

Placing the elderly as a priority in mitigation strategies is a necessity to reduce the risk of complications and higher mortality, Imran emphasized.

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