One area of success is tuberculosis (TB) screening and treatment. He said that Indonesia has experienced a significant improvement in TB surveillance. In 2023, 816,000 new TB cases were detected, or over 77 percent of the estimated 1 million cases.
"By collaborating with communities and health cadres, we have screened over 2.2 million high-risk TB populations," he said during the Indonesia Health Partners Meeting 2024 in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He stressed that Indonesia has fostered innovation in TB diagnostics by manufacturing five PCR-based TB detection tools as well as utilizing 1,000 PCR laboratories to expand surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Indonesia also ensures accessible TB treatment for all," Harbuwono said.
Indonesia is among the first few countries in Asia to roll out the BPaL and BPaLM treatments, known as short-term all-oral regimens for drug-resistant TB, he added. Indonesia also supports research on creating shorter treatment regimens for drug-sensitive TB.
The Health Ministry is engaging communities through the TB Army, a trained community of TB survivors who help detect and supervise lost follow-up drug-resistant TB patients.
Harubuwono said that the achievement is owing to collaboration with the Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The meeting also addressed advancements in cardiovascular treatments.
Collaborative efforts, such as the Emirates-Indonesia Cardiology Hospital in Solo, demonstrate the positive impact of foreign partnerships. This eco-friendly hospital with a 100-bed capacity serves as a testament to this successful collaboration.
Additionally, the National Heart Center Harapan Kita partnered with Japan's Tokushukai Medical Group to build a cardiovascular center equipped with advanced facilities.
Indonesia has also integrated immunization activities with the messaging application WhatsApp. This innovation allows people to receive immediate immunization certificates and educational information after vaccination.
Furthermore, the Health Ministry's Sehat Indonesiaku Application (ASIK) has been integrated with WhatsApp to enable health personnel to carry out regular detection and recording of stunting cases.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Anton Santoso
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