Jakarta (ANTARA) - An official from the Health Ministry reminded the people to change their mindset in treating their health, from curative to preventive or prevention.

"(It is especially important) because we know that one of the largest state expenditures is in the health sector," the ministry's health transformation communication technical staff, Dr. Alvin Saputra, stated in an online talk show regarding routine health screening on Friday.

Moreover, Saputra remarked that most diseases occurring in adults are degenerative or chronic ailments that should be prevented by promoting healthy living and conducting regular health screening as an early detection before the disease reaches a more serious stage.

"Even with prevention, we still do not know whether the disease will occur. Therefore, we need routine screening as well," he emphasized.

Saputra highlighted that routine health screening was included in the government's efforts to integrate health services as a promotive and preventive measure in public health.

Health screening can be conducted at the nearest primary health service facilities (fasyankes), such as integrated health post (posyandu) and community health center (puskesmas) throughout the country.

"Every human being, from babies to the elderly, has the right to a healthy life. There is a screening package for each age according to the life cycle," he stated.

Saputra cited as an example a triple elimination screening for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis in pregnant women to ensure smooth delivery.

Furthermore, this step will be followed by screening for stunting after the baby's birth in addition to tuberculosis (TB) and dental and oral health screening at an older age that then continues with various types of screening, such as for checking blood sugar in adulthood, Saputra explained.

He noted that Health Service Integration is a Health Ministry's program launched on August 31, 2023.

He noted that this program focuses on implementing the life cycle as a focus for integrating health services, distributing health services to the village and hamlet level, strengthening regional monitoring through digitalization, and monitoring the health situation in each village through the health dashboard.

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Translator: Sean Muhammad, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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