PRESS RELEASE: Video of early identification of mercury intoxication for 71 health agencies in sever

Denpasar, 18 August 2016 - In conjunction with the celebration of the 71th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, BaliFokus Foundation distributed an animated video to identify early symptoms of mercury intoxication using the Human Bio-Monitoring (HBM) method. The animated video has been distributed to 71 local health agencies that have artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) practices in several provinces throughout the territory of Indonesia.

The animated video, that was a result of collaboration between the BaliFokus Foundation and 4Life OHS Services, have been distributed and packed in the USB flash disk that contains the following materials: an animated video to identify the Hg intoxication symptoms using the HBM method in Bahasa Indonesia; the transcript of the video in Bahasa Indonesia; the form and checklist to perform the HBM method in Bahasa Indonesia (pdf and word documents formats); and a booklet regarding mercury and its impact on health and the environment.

The ASGM practices with mercury used in its process to extract gold can be found almost in all provinces of Indonesia. The use of mercury in gold extraction process has significant impact on public and environment health around the ASGM areas. Beside discovered various “strange” diseases in adults living in ASGM areas, BaliFokus also found many cases of birth defects in the ASGM hotspots suspected due to the chronic exposure of mercury used in gold extraction in the respective villages. The poor conditions of health services due to mercury pollution affected the quality of life of the next generation in the ASGM hotspots and potentially threaten the national resilience.

The distribution of the animated video is expected to be used by the local governments, especially the health agencies, community health centers and local academics as one of the approaches to increase the public health surveillance and monitoring especially in mercury-polluted ASGM hotspots in Indonesia.

This animated video is adapted from an assessment method using the Human Bio-Monitoring schemes for mercury intoxication, developed by a health expert team led by PD Dr. med. Stephan Böse-O'Reilly, MPH., Team Leader of Pediatric Environmental Epidemiology Working Group of Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Environmental and Social Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU. This method has been used in many countries that have ASGM practices since 2003.

The video production and dissemination has been made possible through the pilot grant support from the Goldman Environmental Foundation & Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma Counties, California, USA.

BaliFokus Foundation is a non-governmental organization working to improve community’s capacity, quality of life and advocating a toxics-free environment together with all stakeholders in sustainable way

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For more information:

Yuyun Ismawati; yuyun@balifokus.asia; HP/WA +447583768707

Krishna Zaki; krishna@balifokus.asia; HP/WA: +6281230002825

The press release document can be downloaded here.

You can also watch the animated video here.

List of HBM Video USB Flash Disk Recipients: