The spread of the H1N1 flu virus in the country should be prevented as early as possible so that it will not cause an unexpected number of people be infected, a Red Cross official said.
Head of Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) for health and social affairs, Lita Sarana, said that prevention could be made by increasing the awareness of the people on the importance of exercising healthy patterns of living.
“PMI will conduct healthy living campaigns in all regions in Indonesia so that people will become aware of the danger of the H1N1 virus”, she said. Lita said the campaign activities would begin with providing training to volunteers and guidance to local people in Cianjur, West Java.
In carrying out the activities ,PMI would coordinate with the health ministry and local health services as well as NGOs. “Familiarization programs will be carried out in 420 regencies and mayoralties throughout the countries until early 2010”, Lita said.
The latest data of the health ministry showed that the number of H1N1 flu cases in Indonesia had reached 122, of which 36 are new cases. Two of the H1N1 flu suspects died in the last three days, one at the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, Bali and other in Muhammad Djamil hospital in Padang, West Sumatera.