Day: August 6, 2022

Jakarta The Breastfeeding Task Force of the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) highlighted the importance of breast milk for infants and stated that breastfeeding is the first immunization for babies.

“Breastfeeding is the first immunization for babies to avoid disease and prevent death,” the task force’s head, Dr Naomi Esthernita F. Dewanto, noted in a virtual seminar in the context of the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week, which was followed from here on Saturday.

In addition to containing essential nutrients needed by babies, breast milk has immunoglobulins (antibodies) that strengthen the local gastrointestinal immune system, she remarked.

Breast milk also contains other protective components, such as lactoferrin, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria and lysozyme, which can destroy the bacterial cell walls found in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, she further explained.

The presence of bioactive substances in breast milk supports the baby’s immune system, since at birth, the immunity of the baby is still low.

“Immunoglobulin is passed through breast milk to the baby. Therefore, immunoglobulin is also an immunization, the baby’s body defense,” she remarked.

Dewanto, who also serves as head of the Pediatric Department of Tarumanegara University, highlighted the decline in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for six months to babies.

She cited data from the Basic Health Research, which showed a decrease in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, from 61.33 percent in 2017 to 37.3 percent in 2018.

The latest record from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also showed that in 2021, only one in two babies received exclusive breastfeeding for six months, or only 50 percent of the babies, she stated.

According to Dewanto, the advertisements for breast milk substitutes, the lack of family and community support, and limited breastfeeding facilities at the workplace and in public places are factors that affected the decline in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

Source: Antara News

Awareness and the role of the community are important for the success of cancer prevention in Indonesia.

Jakarta The Health Ministry has invited Indonesians to raise awareness on the importance of early cancer detection, both through self-examination and getting a check-up at health facilities, as part of cancer prevention and handling efforts.

“We have tried to fulfill all the needs of access for early detection, so what we need now is public awareness to want to do early detection at the nearest health facility or primary health facility,” head of the ministry’s Sub-Directorate of Cancer and Blood Disorders, Dr. Aldrin Neilwan Panca Putra, said here on Saturday.

He emphasized the importance of education in raising people’s understanding about the need for early detection. Many cancers, if detected at an early stage, can be treated and cured more easily.

For example, while 70 percent of breast cancer patients are at an advanced stage when they come in for a medical examination, women who regularly undergo breast examinations can detect abnormalities earlier. Therefore, all women must examine their breasts to check for any abnormalities.

“Awareness and the role of the community are important for the success of cancer prevention in Indonesia,” Putra said.

Early detection is one of the strategies for cancer handling. The other strategies include health promotion through information dissemination to the community so that people develop a better understanding of cancers.

For example, liver cancer patients often go to the doctor when it is already too late because they think their symptoms are related to common or minor illnesses.

Given the number of patients who were late in seeking treatment, there was no significant increase in the life expectancy of liver cancer patients in 2013–2014 compared to 1998–1999.

The next strategy is to provide special protection, such as HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccinations, to prevent cervical cancer and provide standardized treatment to cancer patients.

Source: Antara News

Lombok, W Nusa Tenggara The current increase in COVID-19 cases must be responded to with high-level vigilance by strengthening the protection of vulnerable people, including children, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has said.

“Several preventive measures against COVID-19 spread must be increased again through various ways,” she stressed in a statement received here on Saturday.

Moerdijat made the statement in response to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, which pegged the number of COVID-19 cases recorded this week at over 38 thousand. The figure showed a 15-fold increase compared to early June 2022, when the number of cases stood at around 2 thousand.

She said that the increasing threat of COVID-19 must become a serious concern for stakeholders because not all vulnerable people, such as older adults and children, have received the booster vaccine.

Moreover, currently, monkeypox has spread to several countries, she added.

The MPR deputy speaker expressed the hope that stakeholders in the central and regional governments will immediately prepare anticipatory measures and evaluate policies that can stem COVID-19 transmission in the country.

Booster vaccinations for vulnerable groups, such as children, need to be accelerated by formulating a policy as soon as possible, she said.

“The readiness of face-to-face learning must be ensured by following the health protocols as required in each region,” she added.

The current increase in COVID-19 cases must be responded to with a spirit of unity in complying with every policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she said.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of August 5, 2022, the nation has recorded 6,235,244 COVID-19 cases, 6,027,872 recoveries, and 157,072 deaths.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta The Indonesian government is continuously monitoring the development of monkeypox that has spread to several countries, including in Asia, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has said.

“Even though there have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox transmission in Indonesia, the government is continuing to intensively monitor the development of this disease,” the ministry’s deputy for coordination for health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, said when contacted here on Saturday.

The mitigation system to prevent the entry of the disease has been working well, he added.

“The surveillance system has been activated at all entry points to Indonesian territory. The Port Health Office is continuing to check every traveler coming from countries with cases of monkeypox transmission,” he noted.

Laboratories have also been prepared to carry out epidemiological investigations on monkeypox, including examinations to detect the virus that causes the disease.

“In addition, the government has also prepared other anticipatory steps to respond to the development of monkeypox,” he said.

The government will conduct massive dissemination of information on monkeypox in order to improve the community’s understanding and awareness, Suprapto informed.

In addition, it is considering the inputs of Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Soesatyo, who has called for the immediate establishment of a task force for handling monkeypox cases, he added.

“Epidemiological developments and the escalation of monkeypox cases are also being monitored,” Suprapto said.

Earlier, the MPR Speaker had said that the government needs to form a task force to handle monkeypox cases without delay, considering that the disease has been detected in several countries.

Soesatyo also asked the government to cooperate with relevant parties to expand and tighten screening at every entry point to the country—from ports, and airports, to land border crossing posts.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta Head of the breastfeeding task force of the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI), Dr. Naomi Esthernita F. Dewanto, on Saturday called for joint efforts to support exclusive breastfeeding for babies.

“Joint responsibility for the low breastfeeding rate is still lacking; we usually just throw the responsibility only to the mother. Whereas, to exclusively breastfeed (their babies), mothers really need support from the people around them,” she said during a virtual seminar held as part of the World Breastfeeding Week, which was followed from here on Saturday.

Therefore, for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, a campaign to encourage the establishment of a “warm chain” is being implemented, she informed. The term “warm chain” refers to all elements of society joining hands to form a chain to support breastfeeding mothers, she added.

According to Dewanto, support to encourage breastfeeding requires the involvement of various stakeholders—from doctors, counselors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and media, to family members.

“This counseling, education, breastfeeding support with good lactation management can increase exclusive breastfeeding by up to 50 percent,” she highlighted.

As part of the “warm chain,” counseling can also be provided before and after labor, an effective maternity leave policy can be implemented, and interventions can be made to support exclusive breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding, especially in the first six months, is essential because, not only does it play a role in preventing stunting, it also provides antibody protection as the first immunization received by babies,” she explained.

Meanwhile, general chairperson of the IDAI’s central committee, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, also highlighted the importance of family support for breastfeeding mothers, including when breast milk does not flow smoothly for some time post-partum.

Yanuarso also urged health workers to make exclusive breastfeeding a priority.

Source: Antara News