Takeda Global Appreciates Indonesia's Leadership In DHF Prevention And Management

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - As one of the countries most affected by Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), Indonesia's family and national health system face a fairly heavy burden due to dengue.

Even so, Indonesia still shows strong leadership in fighting dengue, through the 2021-2025 National Dengue Management Strategy (SNPD) which prioritizes prevention efforts by involving all stakeholders starting from the government, health practitioners, the private sector, and the public to achieve the zero goal of death due to dengue by 2030. Takeda Global recognizes and appreciates Indonesia's leadership in efforts to prevent and handle dengue that is running to date.

This was conveyed by dr. Derek Wallace, President of the Takeda Vaccine Business Unit, during his visit to Indonesia as part of a trip to Southeast Asia after taking office.

"It is an honor to be able to visit Indonesia, a country that has shown a strong commitment in fighting dengue. Seen from a global point of view, Indonesia has become an example for the world in preventing dengue fever, in which stakeholders from various sectors work together effectively to fight this life-threatening disease. Government leadership in encouraging vector management initiatives, strengthening multi-sector collaboration, and adapting innovative prevention such as vaccination into national strategies, shows an integrated approach that has an impact. I believe that with the continuous dedication of all stakeholders, Indonesia is on the right track to achieving the common goal of zero deaths due to dengue by 2030," he said, in a written statement, Friday, September 20.

DHF, caused by four dengue virus serotypes, is a serious disease that can attack a person more than once, with potentially more severe further infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted, until April 2024, there were more than 7.6 million global cases with more than 3,000 deaths.

Indonesia itself is one of the countries with the highest dengue prevalence rate in Southeast Asia. Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health stated that more than 190,561 cases and 1,141 deaths were reported as of the 36th week of this year, an increase from 114,720 cases and 8894 deaths in 2023.

The DHF economic burden is also significant. BPJS Kesehatan recorded financing of up to IDR 1.3 trillion in 2023, a sharp increase from IDR 626 billion in the previous year.

Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Sp.PD-KEMD., Ph.D, emphasized that the government is fully committed to continuing to fight dengue fever through integrated preventive measures.

Seeing the increase in cases that occurred from 2023 to 2024 today, it shows the need for more effective and innovative preventive measures. For this reason, the Government of Indonesia supports a commitment with six national strategies to tackle dengue which include: Management of secure and continuous vector strengthening; Increase access and utu dengue implementation; comprehensive dengue surveillance and KLB management; Improvement of sustainable public involvement; Strengthening government commitments, program policies, and partnerships; and Study development, intervention, innovation, and research as a basis for policies and proof-based program management.

"But of course, the success of overcoming dengue does not only depend on the government's commitment, but also requires support from all parties. Cross-sector synergy collaboration is very important to ensure that dengue prevention and control can run effectively throughout Indonesia. For that we thank PT Takeda Innovative Medicines, for its support in the media briefing and talk show Indonesia's leadership in Fighting Dengue," he said in a video message today.

The National Strategy for Handling Dengue 2021-2025 shows Indonesia's leadership in tackling dengue, which is a manifestation of its commitment to circumventing the 2020-2030 National Tropical Diseases (NTD) roadmap from WHO, where dengue is one of the tropical diseases that needs to be eliminated by 2030. This national strategy is the basis for collaboration and the creation of preventive DHF strategies.

Some of the programs that have been implemented by the Indonesian government include launching steps to eradicate mosquito nests through 3M Plus, the One House One Jumantik Movement (G1R1J), as well as innovation interventions such as the release of mosquitoes with Wolbachia. The government has also established various multi-sector partnerships, including by hosting the International Arbovirus Summit 2024.

The Indonesian Ministry of Health together with the Indonesian House of Representatives' Health Caucus, supported by Bio Farma, PT Takeda Innovative Medicines, World Mosquito Program, and cross-sector stakeholders, also launched the Joint Coalition (KOBAR) Against Dengue in 2023 to formulate a more comprehensive DHF response in Indonesia.

A strong commitment to preventing dengue fever, not only comes from the central government, but also from local governments. This can be seen from the pilot program initiated by the East Kalimantan Provincial Health Office, to vaccinate 9,800 elementary school-age children in the city of Balikpapan which was then continued to the city of Samarinda.

In addition, recently, the Probolinggo District Health Office launched a similar program targeting elementary school children and MI, funded purely by the APBD. Probolinggo Regency is the district with the second highest number of dengue cases in East Java (2309 cases until August 2024), while East Java itself is the province with the second highest number of dengue cases nationally.

The target of administering dengue vaccination to 1,120 elementary school students began in the working area of the Paiton Health Center, as the area with the highest number of cases in the Regency. Probolinggo.