"Health devices that have been provided should be utilized as soon as possible. Do not store them because the community needs those devices," he noted in a statement from the Ministry of Health here on Sunday (January 7).
The minister found that several puskesmas still used non-standardized anthropometric equipment during his visit to Tojo Una-Una District, Central Sulawesi, on Saturday (January 6).
Sadikin stated that several puskesmas still used old or manual versions of anthropometric equipment that are feared to not show actual height or weight.
To this end, he urged puskesmas in Tojo Una-Una District to not store anthropometric equipment provided by the government and leave it unused.
He also called for improvement in the utilization and management of ultrasound equipment.
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This is deemed necessary because based on his visit to several puskesmas, there were cases of thermal paper not being available, and the printer being damaged.
"I ask the Health Office to provide and repair it, so that the function (of the equipment) can be optimal again," he remarked.
In addition to equipment related to stunting, he also called on puskesmas to effectively utilize the hematology analyzers to help the automatic detection of diseases, such as cancers, thalassemia, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes, and various other diseases.
He expressed optimism that if the health screening device would be utilized optimally, then various health problems can be detected, controlled, and treated from early at puskesmas, so that the recovery rate can increase.
"If the hematology analyzer tests are running, the blood tests are running, then the hospitals will not be full (of patients)," he remarked.
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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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