PKB Legislator Asks Government To Take Extra Steps To Handle Mysterious Hepatitis Cases

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR PKB faction, Luqman Hakim, asked the government to take extra steps to improve the quality and sanitation facilities of the community. Following that, the discovery of cases of hepatitis 'mysterious' which continues to grow in Indonesia.

"While waiting for the results of research by national and international health authorities on this disease, the government should take extra steps to improve the quality and sanitation facilities of the community," Luqman told reporters, Tuesday, May 10. Moreover, said Luqman, the transmission of Hepatitis A has claimed many lives in children through the feces of the sufferer. "Hepatitis transmission, especially hepatitis A, which causes many child deaths, is transmitted through the feces of people who have the disease," said Luqman.

The PKB legislator for the Central Java electoral district also encouraged the government to complete the Family-Based Jambanization program. Referring to BPS data for 2020, said Luqman, there are still more than 20 million families in Indonesia who do not have latrines. ," he insisted.

In addition, according to Luqman, the government also needs to implement a program to eradicate flies and similar animals that have the potential to be transmitters of the hepatitis virus. "The zones that are the center for breeding flies must be sterilized to prevent the fly population from increasing," he said. On the other hand, the Ansor GP chairman appealed to the public not to panic over the emergence of the mysterious hepatitis case. Because, said Luqman, the government and the relevant health authorities are currently researching the development of the disease.

"I hope the public will not panic over the findings of mysterious hepatitis cases in Indonesia. The government together with experts and national and international health agencies are conducting scientific research on the disease," concluded Luqman. Previously, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that 15 mysterious cases of acute hepatitis had been found in Indonesia since 27 April 2022.

"On April 27, Indonesia found three cases in Jakarta and we issued a circular asking all hospitals and social services to carry out surveillance. So far, there are 15 cases in Indonesia," Budi said in an official statement, Monday, May 9.

Currently, the Ministry of Health is coordinating and discussing with WHO and several countries in Europe to find out the cause of the mysterious disease.