Indonesia sends health workers to address fire-related illness
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Indonesia’s Health Ministry sent 1,898 healthcare workers to seven provinces and 63 districts on September 16, 2026, to help people affected by fires and the resulting air pollution.
The ministry responded to reports of over 151,000 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) among more than 13 million residents. Health Ministry Spokesperson Widyawati stated the workers would support local health staff and improve medical access for communities.
Along with personnel, the ministry provided supplies including nearly two million masks, 280 oxygen concentrators, and 36 oxygen tanks, prioritizing hardest-hit areas like South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and Riau. The ministry also prepared 1,691 community health centers, 360 referral hospitals, and 87 public health laboratories to provide rapid treatment and monitor air quality.
They focused care on vulnerable groups including babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart disease, and advised people to limit time outdoors and wear masks.
