Ministry Of Health Strengthens Regional Surveillance Networks During Endemic Transition

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health is strengthening surveillance networks in all regions in Indonesia to be aware of the potential spike in cases during the transition process to the COVID-19 endemic.

"The strengthening of surveillance in Indonesia begins with the transition from case-based nation whole surveillance to sentinel surveillance," said Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammad Syahril as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 6.

This effort is in the form of surveillance based on COVID-19 cases in all countries in the world compared to the rate of cases in the country, so that a more accurate situation report appears.

Another surveillance strengthening is to integrate surveillance of COVID-19 cases with the ILI/SARI or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection surveillance method which contains epidemiological information to be monitored by the health department in controlling the rate of COVID-19 cases.

"The Ministry of Health has also strengthened Community Based Surveillance which is integrated with the Self-Awareness and Response System (SKDR) in puskesmas and a case monitoring system based on hospital reports," he said.

Besides being integrated with the SKDR, said Syahril, the trend of cases will be monitored through SARI surveillance for more severe cases.

"Environmental Surveillance (ES) will also be one of the surveillance systems that will be developed," he said.

Based on the analysis of the Data and Information Center (Pusdatin) of the Ministry of Health, the rate of COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks has decreased consistently from 2,298 to 1,692 cases.

However, there are still five provinces with the highest increase in cases nationally, including West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, and the Bangka Belitung Islands.

According to Syahril, Indonesia is currently preparing to become endemic based on the parameters of the COVID-19 assessment which continues to slop. Nevertheless, vigilance against the possibility of viral mutations is still carried out.

"Indonesia has adopted six WHO strategies towards endemic, ranging from socializing the risks to the public that the COVID-19 pandemic still exists with the risks to carrying out

vaccination dose 1, dose 2 to booster and ensure the health care system," he said.