Health and Safety in Indonesia

In 2004, Indonesia experienced health dangers brought about by dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and avian influenza. The undesirable condition of the extremely pathogenic avian influenza (A/H5N1) in ducks and chickens in the country also posed an important threat to some of Indonesia’s major industry sector.

Presently, around 1 million volunteers are actively lending a hand in various villages to maintain the countrywide network of community health posts. The 5,000 health centers are managed by 20,000 health workers. About 90% of Indonesian families live and experience easy access to primary health care. This development contributes to an inspiring progress in health standards of the country. At the end of 1990, over 80% was vaccinated against major diseases. One of the major diseases is diarrhea which is due to unsafe drinking of water, with most victims are children. In 1960 to 1993, infant death for every 1,000 live births reduces from 127 to 71.

During the 1990’s, there were 16 physicians, 26 midwives, and 50 nurses for every 100,000 population of the country based on the World Health Organization (WHO) report. Government health outlays are roughly 3.7% of the gross domestic product. As early 1990s, Human immune-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) presented a major public health menace. In Jakarta, about 17% of the prostitutes have acquired HIV/AIDS. Some areas of Papua, more than 26% community women who are not prostitutes are infected with the disease.