APRIL Offers Free Medical Services to Riau Public
As concern mounts over the health risks of haze to the communities in Sumatra, APRIL Group, through its operations unit PT. Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), established free health clinics in five Riau regencies for residents needing medical services.
Free health clinic at Pekanbaru
The clinics have attended to more than 300 patients since they opened on 22 September. Located in Pelalawan, Siak, Kampar, Kuantan Singingi ( Kuansing ) as well as the provincial city Pekanbaru, they will continue to provide medical assistance while fires caused by illegal land clearing through slash and burn continue in this extremely dry season. In addition to consultations and treatment from full time health proffesionals, residents can also obtain free masks and medicines daily from 8:00 – 17:00.
“We are very concerned of the health hazards posed by haze to our employees, their families and the communities living in Riau. We hope that with these free medical services, we are able to help alleviate the impact of this very serious problem of haze from burning to illegally clear land. We continue to uphold our strict no-burn policy and our fire team has been working 24/7 to very vigilantly monitor, suppress and prevent illegal fires that affect our operations”, said RAPP Director, Rudi Fajar.
Regent of Pelalawan visiting our medical clinic in Kerinci
Launched in June this year, APRIL’s Fire Free Village Programme is Riau’s first fire prevention plan that seeks to work collaboratively with the community. Under the FFVP, the partners work with local villages to: identify and support alternatives to fire as a land management tool; recruit, train and support community fire crew leaders; and raise awareness of the negative impact of fire and haze.
