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Diarrhea outbreak hits Orang Rimba in Jambi
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Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa greets Anak Dalam tribespeople in Pulau Lintang village, Sorolangun regency, Jambi, on Feb. 19, 2017. The minister handed over keys to permanent houses for 23 families during her visit. (Courtesy of Social Affairs Ministry/David)
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s many as 45 members of the Anak Dalam tribe, or Orang Rimba, in Makekal Hulu, Mekar Jaya Village, Merangin subdistrict at Jambi’s Bukit Duabelas National Park have been suffering from diarrhea as well as fever and cold, for about two weeks.
According to Jaswandi, head of the nearest health center in Muara Delang, most of the patients were children from the Temenggung Jelitai tribe and of the chief tribe Ngandun group.
Two of them have been treated at the Kolonel Abunjani general hospital in Bangko district.
“There are probably more than 45, but we are still investigating,” Jaswandi said on Sunday.
He added that the health center had initially been alerted to the outbreak by educational workers. “We have conducted emergency services for the children,” he said.
The health center also reminded the people to drink only boiled water in order to prevent diarrhea.
“Because the people live in nature and don’t know much about health, we are also going to educate them through a gentle approach,” Jaswandi said. (sha/ahw)
