Doctor Tirta: Anji Didn't Check Hadi Pranoto's Background

Screenshot of Anji, MANJI's Youtube channel

JAKARTA - A medical volunteer for handling COVID-19, doctor Tirta Mandira Hudhi, received a direct explanation from Erdian Aji Prihartanto alias Anji about the video interview with Hadi Pranoto who claimed to have found the COVID-19 antibody herbal. In fact, Anji did not check Hadi's background.

Some time after the interview video was spread and there was a lot of trouble on social media, Tirta admitted that he immediately met Anji, who was at Mount Puntang, West Java.

Tirta immediately asked the reason why Anji interviewed Hadi. "I met him, asked, 'how come Hadi can come into your place?' Finally he told the truth, "said Tirta in a virtual discussion, Sunday, August 9.

Based on the explanation that Tirta got, Anji knew a figure named Hadi because previously there was one of the media who interviewed Hadi. Without checking Hadi's background in depth, Anji immediately offered to create interview content with Hadi.

"When I asked him why he didn't (search) Google first, he answered because he was already in the spirit of entertainment and this (could be) there was content. That is true, he is not Google anymore, he knows this is viral. Youtube), "explained Tirta.

From there, Tirta immediately told Anji that the COVID-19 drug cannot be claimed at random. This is because they have to go through five clinical trials.

"Before I explained it, he (Anji) didn't know," he said.

Tirta then asked Anji to issue a statement of apology regarding the misinformation contained in the uploaded interview video.

Until finally, on August 6, Anji apologized for making a fuss because of an interview with Hadi Pranoto who claimed to have found a COVID-19 antibody herb. Anji is now ready to help educate about COVID-19.

"In the future, I am open to collaborating with the IDI (Indonesian Doctors' Association) to explain how a finding can be scientifically declared a drug. Then I will continue to make concrete contributions to the parties affected by the pandemic in accordance with the things I can do in this regard with music, the creative industry, "said Anji in the video 'Anji's Clarification of What's Happening' on the world's Youtube channel MANJI, Thursday, August 6.

Anji also stated that he was willing to help educate the public about COVID-19 and its handling. Anji will follow directions from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the government.

Anji, in a 7 minutes 18 seconds video, tells the beginning of his meeting with Hadi Pranoto in Lampung. Anji who was interested in Hadi Pranoto's profile — through media coverage — asked for a special interview whose video was published on his Youtube channel on July 31, two days after the interview.

"In the video I acted as the questioner, I did not say the herbs mentioned were drugs but that was Hadi Pranoto's statement," he said.

Anji also includes a snippet of his interview with Hadi Pranoto. In the video recording, Anji asks how Hadi Pranoto makes antibodies to COVID-19.

"I was shocked when I got information related to Hadi Pranoto and his statements turned out to be invalid. Then another thing I never intended to offend the world of medicine or health workers, "added Anji.