Let's detect early hepatitis B and C!

[JAKARTA] It is estimated that tens of millions of people suffer from hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis B has the highest number of patients, or 7.1%, while hepatitis C account 1% of the 250 million Indonesians.

million people with hepatitis B and C, only thousands of people are aware and seek treatment.

"The growing number of people, means more and more people with hepatitis.Indonesia has a heavy burden on this disease," said the director of Disease Prevention and Control transmissible Direct Kemenkes dr. Wiendra Waworuntu, M.Kes at the exhibition in the discussion forum Philips Indonesia entitled "The role of diagnostic test in the fight against hepatitis" in Jakarta, Thursday (26/7)

Despite the incentive to give an international resolution, too important. This is due to the awareness of the examination is still weak. The program can be divided into two, promotion (eg, socialization of hepatitis) and preventive (free screening).

"If from a curative point of view, this can be rather difficult.But we push how to promote and preventative.In terms of prevention, of course, how to proceed to the examination of people quickly. offers free checks on pregnant women.This year, five million pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B.

President of the Indonesian Association for Heart Research, Dr. Irsan Hasan, SpPD -KGEH, admits that the treatment of hepatitis has progressed in 15 years because there are various methods of treatment such as surgery and therapy.However, the hepatitis disease in Indonesia resembles the phenomenon of icebergs because people do not realize it

"Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Whatever the cause. At least one in 10 Indonesians has chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis is caused by several kinds. This is because of viruses, drugs, dengue, typhus, parasites or offspring. The virus alone has a different shape, and its nature is different too, "he said.

No symptoms

According to Irsan, people with hepatitis are usually not Patients do not feel a lot of changes in the body and almost no symptoms.If there were, patients with hepatitis would not necessarily want to undergo treatment.For some reason, the cost or reason for the method of treatment.As a result, deaths from hepatitis remain high

"The survival rate in 1998, only 24.1% and the year 2013-2014 was only 29.4%. So, if there are 100 people with liver cancer on January 1, by the end of December, there are only 30 left. People with liver cancer die quickly. In addition, the CEO of Philips Indonesia, Suryo Suwignjo, revealed that one of the educational efforts to increase awareness and early detection is to organize a discussion forum bringing together various stakeholders such as Ministry of Health and Professional Experts

In welcoming World Infection Day, which falls on July 28, Philips Indonesia wants to raise public awareness of early detection based on its capabilities and needs. Suryo also urges people to start being tested proactively to prevent hepatitis and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

"We have a range of tools for screening for hepatitis. Thanks to the sound inspection ulttra, our tool is quite complete. But in essence, we want to promote public awareness about the examination of hepatitis. Do you want to use a tool, please. I do not want Philips to agree, "he said. [U-5]