HEALTH CARE

“Medical tourism” is another therapeutic option for Indonesia’s middle-upper classes. Other than obtaining a useful second opinion, they can also obtain international-standard medical treatments, in institutions fitted with the latest modern medical technologies. More than one million Indonesian patients already avail themselves of such technologies in destinations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and China. 

The first case of monkeypox was reported in the UK on 6 May 2022. By 27 July, no fewer than 75 countries have diagnosed carriers of the disease, with a current total of 17,156 cases. Since 23 July 2022, the WHO declared the monkeypox as a global health emergency. 

28 July is World Hepatitis Day. This year, the global commemoration theme, “Hepatitis Can’t Wait”, is meant to convey the urgency of freeing humanity from hepatitis by 2030. 

Head of Infectious Disease Research of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Agus Dwi Susanto, asked doctors to immediately carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on patients who show symptoms of monkeypox such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rash.

Cyber child sexual abuse/ exploitation material (CSAM)/child pornography: images or videos of sexual abuse, or those focusing on child genitalia: child sexual activity materials created digitally without actual contact. 

The simple act of drinking is a great challenge for premature babies, as their bodily functions are still immature and also because they are frequently ill, due to their vulnerable condition. 40–70% of premature babies show atypical nursing abilities: they find it difficult to start sucking; their sucking is irregular, weak, and inefficient; it is hard for them to coordinate even a normal suck-swallow-breathing process; they tire easily, and they cannot continue sucking for a long time. 

Children are the nation’s prime asset. If they are damaged by physical abuse, psychological abuse, let alone sexual abuse, they will grow into damaged adults, ones who might cause problems for themselves, their families, and society in general. Preventing and recognizing sexual abuse in children is extremely important, as the first step, as victims will probably suffer a lifelong trauma, despite rehabilitative treatments. 

Tuberculosis is a communicable disease, one caused by the infection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It is known to be acid-resistant. Even worse, it can withstand cold temperatures and can live for a long time in a -7oC to 4oC temperature range. Luckily, it dies quickly when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. 

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin worried that the return of haj pilgrims might trigger a significant increase in Covid-19 cases. He also estimates that the peak of the latest wave driven by the new variants of Omicron may happen in end of July.

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) permit for the film-coated tablet Paxlovid for the treatment of Covid-19 in Indonesia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is an expanding global problem that is diagnosed for people of all ages. The body cannot produce vitamin B12 by itself. Therefore, it depends on the foods it ingests to produce it. Foods that contain the vitamin come from animal products (meat, milk, cheese, eggs). The restriction of animal food sources, as in a vegetable, let alone a vegan lifestyle, will also impede the body’s intake of the vitamin. Furthermore, patients with digestion problems will also be vulnerable to vitamin B12 deficiency.