“The community, especially older adults, must be active and exercise regularly to prevent osteoporosis,” the ministry's deputy for the coordination of health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, said when contacted on Monday.
He explained that optimal nutritional fulfillment, starting from calcium, Vitamin D, to phosphorus intake, is needed for people to have strong bones.
“It must be fulfilled well in accordance with daily needs. This is essential to maintain bone health and stimulate the growth of new cells,” he said.
Besides following a balanced diet, the community has also been asked to exercise regularly.
"The body not only requires adequate and well-absorbed nutrients but also needs to be trained with movement or exercise to make muscles and bones stay strong and fit," he said.
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According to Suprapto, osteoporosis prevention efforts must be made early as people’s lifestyle while they are young will affect their health when they are older.
Therefore, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture is actively promoting the importance of preventing osteoporosis in the community.
He informed that the government has continued to intensify the Germas (Community Movement) campaign in accordance with Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2017 concerning the Healthy Living Community Movement in order to encourage people to prioritize a promotive and preventive health paradigm.
The movement comprises seven steps, namely, performing physical activities, eating fruits and vegetables, refraining from smoking, not consuming alcoholic drinks, conducting regular health checks, maintaining environmental health, and using toilets (ending open defecation).
Earlier, head of the Indonesian Osteoporosis Association (Perosi), Dr. Bagus Putu Putra Suryana, SpPD-KR, had noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of people with osteoporosis.
"Patients with fractures and osteoporosis have increased after this two-year pandemic," he noted.
The increase occurred because, during the pandemic, people's mobility reduced, and people tended to eat without control and did not take care of their bone health.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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