Prevent "Disaster" Stroke, Early Prevention Steps to Press Health Costs Rp5.8 Trillion

Illustration of a stiff hand (Unsplash)

Data shows that the burden of financing strokes through BPJS Kesehatan has jumped sharply to reach Rp5.8 trillion per year in 2024. This is a concern for the Stroke Indonesia Foundation (Yastroki) which issued a loud call for the Indonesian people to prioritize stroke prevention measures.

The General Secretary of Yastroki, Major General TNI (Ret.) Dr. dr. Tugas Ratmono, Sp.N, MARS, MH, emphasized that stroke is not just a disease, but a public health crisis equivalent to a disaster.

"Stroke is a medical disaster with multidimensional impacts - destroying the quality of life physically, mentally, and economically. However, the most important point that everyone must understand is: Stroke can be prevented," said Dr. Tugas Ratmono in a thanksgiving event for Yastroki's 37th anniversary in Jakarta.

Multi-Layered Prevention: From Lifestyle to Post-Attack

Yastroki emphasized that stroke prevention must be carried out in three main levels to break the chain of increasing cases which now reach 3.8 million people in Indonesia:

Primordial Prevention: Ensuring that risk factors never arise through education on healthy lifestyles from an early age.

Primary Prevention: It is intended for individuals who already have risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol) so that they do not develop a stroke attack.

Secondary Prevention: Strict medical and lifestyle efforts for stroke survivors to avoid a recurrence, which is usually much more fatal.

Implementing the "CERDIK" Strategy as the Main Tameng

As a practical guide for Indonesian families, Yastroki encourages the implementation of the CERDIK lifestyle to minimize the risk of stroke:

Check your health regularly (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol). Quit smoking. Be physically active (at least 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes per day). Balanced diet (limit salt, sugar, and fat). Get enough rest (6-8 hours a day). Manage stress well.

"Stroke is not biased; it can attack young and old regardless of social status. Prevention through physical activity and diet is a much cheaper health investment than the cost of treatment," added Dr. Tugas.

Medical Education: Stop the Myths of "Needle" and "Scraping"

In addition to prevention, Yastroki also highlights the importance of education regarding early symptoms. The public is asked not to believe in myths of first treatment such as scratching, massaging, or pricking the ear with a needle.

"Don't wait for symptoms to improve on their own or use alternative methods that are not medically based. If the face is swollen, the speech is slurred, or there is weakness in the limbs, it is a 'disaster' sign that must be immediately treated at the hospital," he concluded.