HEALTH CARE

Tuberculosis or TB/TBC is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs, primarily the parenchyma or tracheobronchial parts of the organ. “Miliary TB” is classified as TB in the lungs, because it causes lesions there. Here are the other organs that it attacks.

Couples who are married for a year or more, but still not blessed with a child, can enroll in pregnancy programs if they choose to. “These programs are adjusted to match the condition of the couple. They prepare the couple’s physical and mental readiness to face pregnancy: for the future mother, so that they can undergo a healthy pregnancy based on healthy eggs; for the future father, so that they develop healthy sperm that will generate healthy babies, and so that they can support their wives during and after the pregnancy and childbirth,” said dr. Yassin Yanuar MIB, Sp.OG, KFER, M.Sc., Bamed Clinic infertility consultant, in the “Road to Bamed Clinic Anniversary” webinar held late last month. 

To continue in a different direction, we need to constantly manage the daily relations between family members after we get married. One of the ways to do this is by cooking. In the “Kraft Makes Weekend Moments More Precious” webinar on Monday (8/8/2022), Tiga Generasi child and family psychologist Vera Itabiliana, M.Psi., reminds us that time spent together with and as a family is extremely important. We need to strive to maintain this time together, especially as we are transiting towards an endemic condition, and activity levels have reverted to normal as all family members go back to their own individual routines. 

The Javanese set traditional criteria to select a new son- or daughter-in-law: bibit (“seed”, as in whose bloodline the boy or girl is), bebet (“dress”, the boy or girl’s social and financial status and reputation), and bobot (“weight”, their personal characteristics, educational level, and profession). These criteria have been used by families to determine a choice spouse for their adult children for generations. An old understanding of this philosophy has pushed couples to break up “unconventional” relations. Because they have different educational levels, economic background, or tribe, race, or religion, they feel that they, and their relationship, will not be able to meet the expectations of their families and society. 

Current WHO data reveal that coronary heart disease and strokes continue to be top two causes of fatalities worldwide, with a global death rate of 18.6 million a year. This rate is actually expected to rise to 20.5 million in the 2020s and even 24.2 million by 2030. In Indonesia, heart disease and stroke are also the top two causes of death, imposing the greatest burden on the Health Security Service (BPJS), estimated at a liability of IDR 10 trillion.

WHO has declared the monkeypox as a Public Health of Emergency of International Concern (“PHEIC”) on 23 July 2022. “Monkeypox is now a global emergency, even though it has not become a pandemic like Covid-19. Luckily, no case of monkeypox has been reported in Indonesia so far. However, it is important for us to recognize it so we can anticipate,” said dr. Adityo Susilo, Sp.PD-KPTI, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital’s internal disease specialist and consultant of tropical infectious diseases, in the “Beware of and Recognize Monkeypox” live IG session held on Monday (08/08/2022). 

In order to sustain health and fitness, our food should contain both macronutrients and micronutrients, composed of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, obtained from a varied mix of foodstuffs. Through their “Isi Piringku” (“Fill My Plate”) campaign, the Ministry of Health reminds us that an optimal composition for each meal portion is one third carbohydrates and starches, one third animal and vegetable proteins, and one third fruit. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced people to stay at home for prolonged periods of time within the past two years. Naturally, this will degrade our overall health, especially our bones, as they require a regular loading and unloading from daily activities to become solid and maintain their strength. Even worse, as we age, bone health inevitably deteriorates, alongside other bodily functions. Weakening bones are a silent affliction that runs great risks as years pass.

Skin rejuvenation is something that we all should consider during our productive age, which, according to Statistics Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik – “BPS”), is from 15 to 64 years of age.

The National Population and Family Planning Board (Badan Kependudukan dan Keluarga Berencana – “BKKBN”) notes that the unmet needs of population control services spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the unmet need rate is 12.1%. In 2020, it increased to 13.4%, and in 2021 increased again to 18%, even though the target is to reduce unmet needs in 2021 to just 8.8%. 

Health Ministry announced that it has yet able to confirm whether a patient in Central Java is infected with monkeypox.