VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

May 8th is celebrated as the World Thalassemia Day. The commemoration of the World Thalassemia Day 2018 themed "Together for a better future". Secretary of Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control dr. Asjikin Iman Hidayat Dachlan, MHA explained that Thalassemia can not be cured yet but can be prevented by avoiding the marriage of fellow carriers of Thalassemia. Therefore, early detection through screening is very important to know the someone’s status, whether they are carrier of thalassemia or not. In a press conference held on Monday (7/5), he said that the Ministry of Health will form the regulation of health minister to raise awareness and increase thalassemia screening activities.

“It is one of the most important programs and can break the chain of decline. It means when we do the best screening, we can find  the disease carriers. So it is attempted to seperate the person with the carriers until finally clean gradually. The ministry are preparing several programs to support the prevention of the disease. Even abroad, it has become the necessity, so we will make the regulation (Permenkes),” dr. Asjikin Iman Hidayat Dachlan, MHA said.

Asjikin further explained, in the series commemoration of the World Thalassemia Day 2018, Ministry of Health has held Socialization and Screening of Thalassemia to 240 students in Pandeglang and Garut and will conduct Socialization and Thalassemia Screening to the students in West Jakarta in May. On the same occasion, Dr. dr. Pustika Amalia Wahidiyat, Sp.A (K), from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital said, that Indonesia currently entering the country with Thalassemia belt. Based on the basic health research in 2007, 8 provinces with a higher prevalence from national prevalence including Aceh, Jakara, South Sumatra, Gorontalo, Riau Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and West Papua. (VOI/Trs.Sekar/Edt.N)