HEALTH CARE

According to the 2022 Global TBC Report, Indonesia has the second highest number of TBC sufferers worldwide, after India. Next in line are China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2020, Indonesia was the third most tuberculotic country in the world. In other words, there has been a degradation in our health levels in 2021. The estimated number of cases was 969,000 (one person infected by the disease every 33 seconds), increasing 17% from the 824,000 cases recorded in 2020. The incidence level is 354 per 100,000 citizens, with a mortality rate of 55 per 100,000 sufferers. 

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (Type 1 DM) is a chronic metabolism disorder resulting from insufficient insulin levels, in turn related to autoimmune disorders. The number of Type 1 DM incidence is 2%-5% a year, and it occurs evenly worldwide. There is no national data concerning the prevalence of the disease in Indonesia, but data registered by the Indonesian Pediatricians Association (Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia – “IDAI”) shows that the 156 Type 1 DM child and teen sufferers diagnosed in 2009 have increased to 1,160 sufferers in 2014, and again to 1,368 sufferers by 2021. The increased prevalence of the disease means that we need to pay better attention to diabetes treatment for children and teens, including when fasting in Ramadan. 

Most tumors in the body, including the brain, are caused by genetic disorders. The diagnosis of a brain tumor can only be determined with certainty through an anatomic pathological examination, involving a biopsy using a contrast agent. It is defined as a tumor if the growth is benign or slow, whereas if it is difficult to control it is called cancer. When suspecting a brain tumor, the doctor will advise the patient to undergo examinations such as neuro-ophthalmology, electroencephalograms (EEG), and radiology. 

For health benefits, the WHO recommends moderate-intensity physical activity for 30 minutes, each time you practice, five times a week. It’s a relatively short period, but for many people it is torture, with excuses that they are lazy, busy at work and so on.

The rainy season, often accompanied by foods, also sees the emergence of various diseases. People should be aware of the danger of illnesses that come during the rainy season, especially in areas frequently hit by floods. Some of these are transmitted through animals (zoonosis), and some are caused by environmental hygiene that is not maintained. Viruses cause influenza and upper respiratory tract infections (ARI), bacteria cause typhoid and diarrhea, mosquito vectors cause dengue fever and malaria, while rat urine in stagnant water can cause leptospirosis. 

Strokes are a major cause of death in Indonesia. According to the 2018 Baseline Health Study, the prevalence of strokes in Indonesia was 10.9% of the population, or 2.1 million people, rising 7% from that of 2013 – and the number of cases tends to increase every year. The availability of stroke treatment facilities and services are crucial to ensure the life expectancy of patients, but they are so far unevenly distributed and difficult for some people to access. 

The year-end is usually a moment for all to evaluate how we lived our lives throughout the last 12 months. This is also usually the time for us to set targets and set out our objectives, so that we can become better in the upcoming year. 

Many people look forwards to the end of the year. It’s a great chance to go on holiday together, as working parents get their year-end leave and children gets school holiday after they pick up their report cards.

Starting in 2023, people can no longer buy single cigarettes, from vendors. This ruling is expressed in Presidential Decree Number 25 of 2022 concerning the 2023 Government Regulation Organization Program, signed recently on 23 December 2022. 

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin revealed that the Omicron BF.7, which triggered an explosion of Covid-19 cases in China, has been detected in Indonesia. He said that so far there have been 15 cases recorded, reported Merdeka, Friday (30/12).

Yayasan Kemitraan Indonesia Sehat (YKIS) advisory board chairman Nafsiah Mboi, said there has been a change in the HIV/AIDS transmission trend in the society. According to her, the disease is now mostly affecting pregnant women and same-sex groups, a shift from female sex workers and gay men in 2012, reported Tempo, Wednesday (28/12).