The Indonesian Express
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."