Health Minister Nila Moeloek giving a press conference after meeting with President Jokowi at the State Palace, Jakarta.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Minister of Health, Nila F Moeloek to alert the health center and health personnel for 24-hour standby, in order to immediately serve the residents in areas that hit by smoke from the land and forest fires.

After meeting with President Jokowi, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (17/9), Health Minister, Nila told reporters that the President was concerned with the increasingly high sufferers of acute respiratory tract infection or often referred to as ISPA, especially in Riau.

Health Minister Nila said as many as 22,535 people suffering from respiratory infection. “So this figure is not a cumulative figure. Riau affected because of the wind from the South Sumatra,” Nila said.

To reduce the risk of respiratory problems, Health Minister, Nila said that already provide free masks to residents.

“The provision of masks will also be added again today to the areas affected by smog. Friday (18/9) will send the mask again. We will send again masks, medicines and additional personnel as well as medical personnel there,” Health Minister Nila said.

In addition, the Minister added that his party had already coordinated with health agencies to deploy medical personnel to treat people affected by smog, both in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Actually, the local medical staff was sufficient.   ISPA is also not being treated, we just treat it. So we help medical supplies, masks and extra food,” he said. (Did/DNSWIED//ES)/Sy.