Red Cross Sets Up 200 First Aid Posts

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has set up 200 joint first aid posts and prepared 50 ambulances to serve the medical needs of Idul Fitri homebound travelers in Java, Sumatra and Bali. "Some 1,000 volunteers, including doctors and nurses, along with ambulances are deployed at the joint first aid posts to help homebound travelers seven days before and after the Muslim holiday of Lebaran," Head of the Social and Health Service Division at the PMI Headquarters dr Arfan said here on Friday. The posts are located in the provinces of Banten, West Java, East Java, Central Java, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bengkulu, Aceh, South Sumatra, Riau Islands, Lampung, Riau and Bali, he said. He said the posts are set up particularly in accident-prone areas and strategic places such as bus terminals, railway stations, ports and recreational areas. In carrying out their tasks the posts are cooperating with a number of agencies, including health offices, transportation offices, military and police, he said. "PMI has set itself the target of serving 10,000 homebound travelers in Java, Sumatra and Bali," he said. The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has also set up five health posts to serve the medical needs of Idul Fitri homebound travelers. "According to information from IDI's Post Command of Idul Fitri Homebound Travel Coordinator Dr Kamaruddin Askar, two of the health posts started operations today," IDI Chairman Zaenal Abidin said here on Friday. (*)