Jakarta  (AsiaNews) -  Since New Year, dengue fever has spread throughout Indonesia, targeting the capital and claiming 322 lives throughout the country. Until now, the dengue pandemic had spread to 26 of the country's 32 provinces. With 17,300 people infected and 13,765 hospitalized, the death toll continues to rise. According to health officials, floods which have recently inundated parts of Jakarta and surrounding cities have worsened the situation. Confusion about financing the treatment costs is hampering the resolution of the problem.

Most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are in Java Island, where over half of the country's 212 million people live. 38 deaths have been recorded there. Other badly affected areas include East and West Nusa Tenggara, Yogyakarta, and Bali. Jakarta has taken most of the losses, with 6,782 cases of the fever leaving 55 people dead.

Today, Prof. Dr. Achmad Sujudi, Ministry of Health, issued a national policy that all dengue patients should be hospitalised without any charge needed. Earlier this week he said that the central government has prepared at least Rp 150 billion (circa US dollars 17.86 million) in emergency funds to deal with the situation. Jakarta's administration had also allocated a total of Rp 7,2 billion (US dollars 57,142) to be divided among 42 subdistricts for operational costs to curb  the epidemic. "The situation is dire and needs immediate handling. "Health Ministry spokeswoman Dr. Mariani said in Jakarta last week.

Amidst growing health concerns, confusion among patients and local government officials about the central government's promise to provide free medical care for the poor is hindering the eradication of the fever problem. Local papers report that the standard procedure of checking patients' blood every two hours is not being practiced in hospitals that lack funds. Jambi's governor Zulkilfi Nurdin urged the Ministry of Health to clarify the policy of free treatment for the poor. (MH)

• indonesia
• dengue
• fever
• epidemics
• poverty