Four Priority Programs
At the same event, dr. Tiffany Tiara Pakasi, MA, Ministry of Health’s Acting Director of the Prevention and Control of Communicable diseases, declared that the high rate of Hepatitis B infection from mothers to babies has caused the Government to encourage detection in the form of a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg). This test accurately detects the existence of the Hepatitis B virus in the blood. Throughout 2019-2022, out of the 60% of pregnant mothers tested using the HBsAg, the prevalence of reactiveness is in a 1.6%-1.8% range.
“Early detection for Hepatitis B is performed in 92% or 472 of all regencies and municipalities in Indonesia. If the mother shows HBsAg reaction, the baby must be immediately immunized against Hepatitis B – at the latest, 12 hours after birth. A full immunization suite of 3 injections can protect babies from catching Hepatitis B from their mothers – by as much as 95%,” dr. Tiara said.
In the effort to reduce the number of Hepatitis B and C sufferers, the Government implements four hepatitis priority programs: early detection of Hepatitis B in pregnant mothers; early detection Hepatitis C in high-risk populations (HIV sufferers, frequent users of syringes, hemodialysis patients, and convicts); Hepatitis B screening during antenatal care of pregnant mothers; and access to Hepatitis C screening and treatment.
Thanks to rapid technological advances, now there are oral drugs to combat Hepatitis C, the Direct Acting Antivirus (DAA). The Government supplies DAA in 51 hospitals in 25 provinces. It is taken regularly for 3 – 6 consecutive months, with a cure rate of 100%. (est)