Early Detection Of Stunting Risk, Ministry Of Health Places Screening Equipment In Referral Hospitals

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Health has placed screening tools for early detection of stunting risk and mental retardation in newborns at four referral hospitals in Indonesia.

The Director-General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Abdul Kadir, in a press release confirmed in Jakarta, Sunday, May 22, said that the device is expected to increase the inspection capacity of each hospital to reach 2,400 tests per day.

"This screening is intended so that treatment can be given early, so that children can grow and develop normally," he said as quoted by Antara.

The tools are called Genetic Screening Processor (GSP) and DBS Puncher PerkinElmer which were received by the Ministry of Health from a grant from PT UBC Medical Indonesia on Saturday, May 21.

The tool is used to screen for congenital hypothyroid syndrome in newborns to prevent stunting and mental retardation.

Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition of decreased or non-functioning thyroid gland that is acquired since the newborn. Congenital hypothyroidism can cause stunted growth and development in children and make children mentally retarded.

In line with the government's policy to reduce stunting, said Abdul Kadir, this year's congenital hypothyroid screening will begin to be accessed by all newborns in Indonesia through the National Health Insurance (JKN) program.

Screening can be carried out at health facilities that have collaborated with BPJS Health in all regions.

PerkinElmer's GSP and DBS Puncher tools were used to examine TSH levels from samples of dried blood drops taken from newborns. Cipto Mangunkusumo, RSUP Dr. Hasan Sadikin, RSUP Dr. Sardjito, and RSUD Dr. Soetomo.

Abdul Kadir said a TSH level of less than 20 U/mL indicates that the baby's TSH level is normal.

The grant was given by PT UBC Medical Indonesia as a form of social responsibility for the success of the congenital hypothyroid screening program in Indonesia.

"Increasing the inspection capacity is very important to be able to achieve the screening target set by the government," he said.

The ceremonial grant for the GSP and DBS Puncher PerkinElmer tools was held on Saturday (21/5) from PT UBC Medical Indonesia to hospitals under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, namely Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo RSUPN, Dr. Hasan Sadikin RSUP, and Dr. Sardjito RSUP.

The grant ceremony was held in conjunction with a working meeting of the Directorate General of Health Services which was attended by all representatives of Government Hospitals.

The handover was carried out by the Commissioner of PT UBC Medical Indonesia Nathan Tirtana to the directors of each hospital witnessed by the Director General of Health Services, Abdul Kadir.