The diseases that caused most of the deaths in 2017 were non-transmissible ones, such as stroke followed by heart disease and diabetes
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture stated that non-transmissible diseases were causal to most deaths in Indonesia.

"The diseases that caused most of the deaths in 2017 were non-transmissible ones, such as stroke followed by heart disease and diabetes," Agus Suprapto, deputy for coordination of health quality improvement and population development at the ministry noted during a webinar on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in 1990, the main causes of death apart from stroke were tuberculosis and lower respiratory tract infections caused by viral transmission. The change in the causes of deaths from 1990 to 2017 were attributed to the people's lifestyles that had increasingly become unhealthy.

"There is a long story behind stroke, starting from the diet followed as teenagers or adults that will affect our health when we are in our 40s or 50s," he expounded.

The public must be educated of the risks of the lifestyle chosen from an early age. Currently, until six days since birth, children are at risk of malnutrition, for which the government is focusing on expediting programs that aim to suppress the rate of stunting.

In addition, the government has created the Healthy Living Community Movement, that was formed based on Law Number 36 of 2009 that stipulates about health, Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2017, and Regulation of the Head of National Development Planning Agency Number 11 of 2017 that offers general guidelines for the healthy living community movement.

"In the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Development Plan, the Healthy Living Community Movement is expected to improve health services towards universal health coverage, especially basic health services, by encouraging increased promotive and preventive efforts, supported by innovation and the use of technology," he highlighted.

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Translator: Sanya D S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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