Pengendalian Penyakit Tropis Memerlukan Keterlibatan Berbagai Pihak
Pengendalian Penyakit Tropis Memerlukan Keterlibatan Berbagai Pihak
Tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and TB are still a health problem in Indonesia The prevalence of these diseases is increasing in the country, which calls for rapid treatment from health practitioners, academics, private companies, as well as society.
Director General for Prevention and Control of Diseases in Health Ministry, dr. Mohamad Subuh, MPPM, tounched upon this issue on Wednesday (10/5) in the University Club UGM in a national seminar themed Recent Development in Tropical Medicine: Scientific, Clinical, and Management Aspects, hosted by graduate programme of Faculty of Pharmacy UGM.
He described the tropical diseases development in Indonesia throughout 2016 which was marked by high cases of endemic malaria in 52% or regencies/municipalities, dengue fever patients reaching 202,314 people, as well as high prevalence of ignored diseases such as filariasis, schistosomiasis, and leprosy.
To resolve this, Health Ministry has made innovations related to the prevention and controls of diseases. Even so, such efforts still meet challenges on the site.
“The main challenge in tropical disease control is mobility, implementation, coverage, services, public access to services, resource, facilities and infrastructure, as well as support from private companies and NGOs,” he said.
He expected the seminar would increase understanding and commitment of everyone to the government effort in controlling tropical diseases. He specifically encouraged academics to give more contribution to the issue.
“Health Ministry has stipulated policy, efforts and strategies to prevent and control tropical diseases. Academics are expected to find new ways and technologies to do that,” said Subuh.
Faculty of Pharmacy routinely conducts national seminar annually. “Through this seminar, we wish to do disemination on the recent scientific pharmaceutical developments, including one that relates to tropical diseases. Hopefully, in the future there will be more research and drugs that can be utilised to resolve this problem,” said Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, Prof. Dr. Agung Endro Nugroho, M.Si., Apt.
After these speeches, students from various universities also gave research presentations on related topics. “Through the presentation session, we want to encourage the students to dare to publish their research and speak up at scientific forums,” said Head of Pharmacy graduate programme, Dr. Erna Prawita Setyowati, M.Si, Apt.