Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin pointed out that Indonesia faces major challenges in handling cancer, with more than 400 thousand new cases reported each year and 230 thousand deaths from the disease.
Hence, the minister affirmed that in an effort to improve prevention and early detection, the country has taken several strategic steps, including distributing ultrasound devices with linear probes and training general practitioners in 10 thousand health centers across Indonesia for breast cancer screening in around 100 million adult women.
In addition, he remarked that since 2022, Indonesia has implemented a massive HPV vaccination campaign for 50 million women and boys, with a target completion in 2030.
"We have also introduced HPV DNA testing for 60 million women and started distributing Thermal Ablation devices to health centers across the country to detect and treat cervical cancer at an early stage," he noted in a statement on Thursday (Oct 3).
As part of a broader national effort, he highlighted that Indonesia is equipping 514 districts and cities with lung cancer and colorectal cancer screening facilities. This initiative is expected to be completed in 2027.
According to Sadikin, as a step towards more precise cancer treatment, Indonesia has launched the National Health Biotechnology Center (BGSi), where Dharmais Hospital acts as a national hub for cancer care to develop a comprehensive genomic profile targeted for completion this year.
"We must focus on public health campaigns, lifestyle changes, and early screening to reduce cancer mortality," he stated.
The minister also emphasized the importance of global cooperation in the fight against cancer.
Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored the importance of global solidarity action for cancer prevention and control.
He recommended Indonesia, Bhutan, and Australia to work together in building collaboration to combat cancer.
"Many countries are doing the same by building networks, (conducting) joint training, strengthening research collaborations, and strengthening international agreements," Tedros noted.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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