Strengthening the four pillars is a lesson learned from the outbreak of COVID-19, an emerging infectious disease (PIE) that devastated the entire world, including Indonesia.
"From our experience in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, we gained new lessons where we must strengthen our pillars in the health system," the ministry's director general of health services, Azhar Jaya, said at an online discussion on Friday.
According to him, prevention can be carried out with the help of a good, integrated surveillance system and good clinical research management.
Meanwhile, a syndrome-based case detection approach can be used by paying attention to symptoms, epidemiology, risk factors, and others, he said.
"The third pillar, response, is a management of cases suspected with PIE, which needs immediate referral, and the last one is recovery," Jaya added.
The implementation of the four pillars by society is very crucial. He called for support and cooperation from various sectors, including the government, academics, and the community, for the purpose.
As a form of government preparedness for anticipating the transmission of mycoplasma pneumonia in Indonesia, the Ministry of Health has issued Circular Letter Number: PM.03.01/C/4632/2023 concerning awareness of mycoplasma pneumonia incidents in Indonesia.
"The circular letter aims to anticipate the spread of pneumonia in Indonesia," the ministry's director general of disease prevention and control, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said separately.
Through the circular, the Port Health Office (KKP) has been directed to track the development of cases and affected countries and increase early awareness by monitoring suspected cases of pneumonia.
The KKP has also been asked to increase supervision of people (crew, personnel, and passengers), transportation equipment, luggage, the environment, vectors, and disease-carrying animals at ports, airports, and cross-border posts, especially those arriving from infected countries.
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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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