These four measures involve combating ignorance with educati on, preventing delayed diagnoses by promoting screening, improving access through the expansion of free services, and eliminating stigma with empathy and solidarity.
"Combating hepatitis is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and specialist doctors. This is a shared task," member of the ministry's Expert Committee on Hepatitis and Gastrointestinal Infections, David H. Muljono, noted in a statement received here on Wednesday.
Muljono made these remarks during an online media briefing titled "Moving Together to End Hepatitis Transmission" held on Tuesday to mark World Hepatitis Day 2025.
He stated that the observance of World Hepatitis Day 2025 is a crucial momentum for Indonesia to strengthen its commitment to eliminating hepatitis B and C by 2030.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of a specific and decentralized approach to tackling hepatitis.
"Currently, China, India, and Indonesia bear over 50 percent of the global hepatitis B burden. If Indonesia can eliminate hepatitis, the contribution to global health will be very significant," he remarked.
Muljono further explained that globally, over two million new infections and 1.4 million deaths due to hepatitis are recorded annually. He pointed out that in Indonesia, high hepatitis prevalence persists in certain regions such as Maluku and Papua.
"More than 60 percent of Indonesians are not yet immune to hepatitis B. This is a vulnerable population that could become sufferers in the future if not addressed promptly through immunization and early screening," he remarked.
He emphasized that the elimination strategy cannot adopt a single approach because each region has different characteristics.
He also highlighted the importance of decentralizing diagnostic and therapeutic services in addressing hepatitis.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
