By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - Dehydration and communicable diseases are feared to affect Idul Fitri travelers on their home-bound trips to celebrate the post-fasting Idul Fitri holidays at the end of this week.
The mobility of around 27 million Idul Fitri travelers is a potential medium for swine flu to spread from one region to another if preventive measures are not taken. After all, the H1N1 strain of the virus is now spreading in the country.
Besides, the present temperature condition in the country is too hot that could cause dehydration. "The heat waves as a result of high temperatures will peak several days before, during and after the Idul Fitri holidays. Thus, travelers are threatened by dehydration," Abdul Kohir of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for South Tangerang office, said.
He said that the temperature in Jakarta and its buffer zone areas for example could reach 33.5 and 35 degrees. "It's relatively hot and could cause dehydration," he said.
Kohir said that the increase in the temperature was caused by the effect of El Nino, which also caused drought in the country. The impact of El Nino in the September-November period in 2009 is expected to include the continuation of drier-than-average conditions in Indonesia and enhanced precipitation in the west-central tropical Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA.
Current conditions, trends, and model forecasts favored the continued development of a weak-to-moderate strength El Nino into the Northern Hemisphere fall 2009, with the likelihood of at least a moderate strength El Nino during the winter 2009-10, according to an e-mailed press statement of US-based NOAA's National Weather Service received by ANTARA recently.
Besides dehydration, Idul Fitri travelers were also warned of communicable diseases, particularly swine flu which is now also spreading in Indonesia. Alertness must be exercised due to the high mobility of people during the Idul Fitri holidays. At least 27 million people are expected to go home town throughout the country to celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays.
In Yogyakarta, for example, travelers are asked to exercise alertness because the mobility of Idul Fitri revelers in the region is also high. "When there is a high mobility of the people, the swine flu virus could also spread easily," Akhmad Akhadi, head of communicable disease control unit of Yogyakarta's Health Service, said.
He said that Yogyakarta would be much visited by both Idul Fitri travelers and those who were going there for holidaying. They might come from swine-flu affected regions, however.
In anticipation of the spread of the H1N1 virus in Jakarta, medical volunteers had launched a program to provide antiseptic tissues for Idul Fitri travelers at Senen Railway Station.
The service was provided by the United Nations in cooperation with the National Committee of Bird Flu and Pandemic Disease Control. Suzanna Dayne, communication specialist of the UN said the activities were only a small part of the UNICEF program in handling the spread of flu such as H1N1 and bird flu viruses.
"Train passengers and other travelers are given antiseptic tissues in an effort to anticipate the spread of swine flu and this is only a small part of the UNICEF program," Dayne said.
In the meantime, the Jakarta Red Cross has set up a total of 114 first-aid command posts at bus terminals and railway stations across Java island to serve Idul Fitri travelers.
The command posts would help any Idul Fitri traveler who falls ill on the road, Jakarta Red Cross spokesperson Rini Sutiyoso said here on Tuesday.
"We are ready to give our best possible assistance to holiday travelers and for this purpose we have obtained medicines from the Health Ministry, and we are also going to station around 20 medical workers at each post," Rini Sutiyoso said after inspecting home-going activity at Senen railway station in Central Jakarta.
She said the Jakarta Red Cross had assured the public that blood supply during the Ramadan fasting month and Idul Fitri festivity would be sufficient.
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) also launched ambulance services for Idul Fitri travelers. The ambulances are ready to provide medical treatment for passengers.
The ambulance services would be centered in a number of train stations and bus terminals in the capital city. Chairman of (PMI) Mari'e Muhammad on Sunday launched the five units of ambulances which would be placed to serve Idul Fitri travelers.
The standby ambulance services would also be stationed nearby PMI's first-aid command posts in the capital and in the highways of the northern coastal areas of Java.
Other medical workers also prepared health command posts in a number of points of lanes used by travelers such as in Bakauheni port in Lampung, Sumatra, and along the northern coastal areas in Java.
According to Dr Rahmi, a duty doctor at Bakauheni health post, Bakauheni was now ready to provide health services for travelers coming from Java to Sumatra or from Sumatra to Java.
"We are now ready to provide services. Medical workers, medical equipment and medicines have all been prepared," the doctor said.
She said that the medical workers came from the health service of Panjang port, health care centers of Bakauheni, Palas and Way Mili. They will be deployed in 24 hours.
"The medical workers consisted of three doctors, eight nurses, two sanitation officials and two quarantine staffers. They have been prepared since Monday," she said.
Bakauheni port is a linking point for travelers from Merak port of Java to Sumatra, which is one of the busiest lanes home-bound travelers who want to celebrate the post-fasting Ramadhan month festivities.
In Central Java, Batang district in particular, at least seven health care centers and ambulances have been prepared a long the northern coastal highways to provide service for travelers. "We will operate the ambulances 24 hours," health coordinator for Batang district, Central Java, Richardi said.
According to Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal, the number of Idul Fitri travelers this year is estimated at 27.25 million, of which 16.2 million will use various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million will use private cars and motor cycles. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012) 18:52/.... ) (T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 15-09-2009 20:21:28
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