He stressed that Indonesia would miss the opportunity to become a developed country if its people were not healthy and educated.
"In the time remaining, we must develop our health infrastructure," he remarked after attending a meeting on priority health service improvements at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
During the meeting, he highlighted that the government discussed efforts to strengthen the capabilities of community health centers (puskesmas), integrated health post (posyandu), and other health services for education and prevention.
By bolstering prevention efforts, people are encouraged to monitor their health conditions as a primary measure in preventing several chronic diseases, such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer, Sadikin noted.
"We have to regularly check our blood pressure to prevent stroke. We must also maintain it within the range of 80-120. It is better to take a blood pressure medication rather than to suffer a stroke," he stated.
The minister also urged the public to monitor their cholesterol levels to avoid heart disease.
"In addition to heart disease, diabetes cases are also on the rise. Unfortunately, diabetes can also lead to stroke, heart disease, and damage to other organs. Diabetes can be prevented by measuring blood sugar levels and adjusting one's diet," he stated.
Through strengthening disease prevention efforts, Sadikin is keen to ensure that Indonesia's human resources remain healthy.
"We should not only focus on treating sick people. Illness is costly. We must also maintain the quality of our lives," he emphasized.
Related news: Rp15.37 tln used to fund heart disease, stroke treatment costs: govt
Related news: Public should switch from curative to preventive mindset: Ministry
Translator: Yashinta Difa P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
