IRRA Is Pushing For Better Hepatitis Screening In Honor Of World Hepatitis Day

IRRA Is Pushing For Better Hepatitis Screening In Honor Of World Hepatitis Day

Thursday, 08 Aug 2024

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 354 million people globally are affected by hepatitis B or C, with over a million deaths each year due to the disease. In Indonesia, it's estimated that about 20 million people have hepatitis, with the highest prevalence being hepatitis B. If this trend continues, by 2040, hepatitis could claim more lives annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined. To mark World Hepatitis Day on July 28, PT Itama Ranoraya Tbk (“IRRA”), a company specializing in high-tech medical equipment, is committed to promoting early detection of hepatitis. Early detection is crucial to prevent further complications for patients and to ease the financial burden on social security systems.

Hepatitis is a condition where the liver becomes inflamed due to a virus. There are five types of hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E, each differing in transmission methods, severity, and treatment options. Hepatitis often shows no symptoms and may only be detected when the disease has progressed significantly. As a result, many people live with undiagnosed hepatitis. Even when diagnosed, the number of individuals seeking treatment and care for this disease is quite low. “Most hepatitis cases go undiagnosed because symptoms are often not apparent until the disease has advanced. That's why it's essential for people, especially those in high-risk groups like those with a history of blood transfusions or shared needles, to undergo regular screenings.”

The best preventive measures to lower the risk of hepatitis include getting vaccinated, especially for hepatitis A and B, practicing good hand hygiene, ensuring that the food and drinks we consume are clean and well-cooked, and avoiding sharing needles. This way, we can reduce the number of undiagnosed hepatitis cases and boost the chances of early treatment, said Satria Mulia Chaerudin, General Manager of Market Access at PT Itama Ranoraya Tbk. Symptoms to watch out for include pale stools, abdominal pain, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, mild fever, loss of appetite, and joint pain. As part of IRRA's commitment to achieving a hepatitis-free world by 2030, as declared by WHO, IRRA is actively promoting early detection efforts for hepatitis in the country.

This includes distributing Abbott reagents, a top diagnostic solution for hepatitis screening, particularly for HBsAg in Hepatitis B and Anti HCV in Hepatitis C. Since becoming an official partner of Abbott in 2017, IRRA has played a crucial role in providing high-quality diagnostic tools to over 75 healthcare facilities across Indonesia. Heru Firdausi Syarif, CEO of PT Itama Ranoraya Tbk, mentioned, "The Abbott reagents we distribute have 100% sensitivity, ensuring minimal chances of reading errors. By 2023, the company has successfully distributed over 500 reagents throughout Indonesia, especially to Blood Transfusion Units (UTD) in hospitals and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). We are continuously working on expanding to various regions in Indonesia to enhance early detection efforts for hepatitis and generally improve the health standards of our communities."

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