Meanwhile, as (part of) secondary prevention (attempts), (the ministry conducts medical) screening for the 14 diseases that cause the highest (number of) deaths in each age group (in Indonesia) and screening for stunting (cases), as well as improves
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry is strengthening the primary service system to reduce incidents of cardiovascular disease that had become the leading cause of death and used up the most health financing costs in Indonesia.

"To overcome the problem of heart disease in Indonesia, the Health Ministry is strengthening primary services by educating the public (about the disease), (implementing) primary and secondary prevention attempts, as well as increasing the capacity and capability of primary (health) services," Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (P2PTM) at the ministry Eva Susanti said here on Thursday.

Susanti said her side also intensified seven main health campaigns to the community to mitigate non-communicable diseases.


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The campaigns promote the importance of immunization, balanced nutritional intake, physical exercise, anti-smoking habit, environmental sanitation and hygiene, disease screening, as well as adherence to medical treatment.

The ministry has also administered 14 types of regular immunizations and expanded the coverage of the program across Indonesia as the primary prevention attempts.

"Meanwhile, as (part of) secondary prevention (attempts), (the ministry conducts medical) screening for the 14 diseases that cause the highest (number of) deaths in each age group (in Indonesia) and screening for stunting (cases), as well as improves ANC (antenatal care) for maternal and infant health," the director remarked.

Susanti said her side also strengthens the capacity and capability of primary services by establishing community health center (Puskesmas) in 171 sub-districts, providing 40 essential medicines, and meeting the needs of primary health human resources.


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The ministry noted that 41 million people succumb to non-communicable diseases every year globally, and 17.9 million deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease.

In Indonesia, some 651,481 people die of cardiovascular disease every year.

World Heart Day 2022, commemorated every September 29, has raised the global theme of “Use Heart for Every Heart.” In addition, Indonesia has raised its own theme, “Healthy Hearts for All.”

At the commemoration, the ministry invited people to make simple, positive changes in their daily activities, such as regularly getting medical checkups, quitting smoking, regularly engaging in physical exercises, consuming a healthy and balanced diet, getting sufficient rest, as well as managing stress levels well to have a healthy heart.


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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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