Minister Of Health Undergoes First Hepatitis Vaccination At Tangerang Hospital

Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Azmi Samsul Maarif)

TANGERANG - Minister of Health (Menkes), Budi Gunadi Sadikin underwent the first Hepatitis-B vaccination injection at the regional public hospital (RSUD) Tangerang Regency.

The initial vaccination injection was carried out as a step to socialize and educate 300 thousand health workers throughout Indonesia to make the Hepatitis-B vaccine program a success.

"So, coincidentally, we do this nationally for our health workers. At the same time, I also just realized that I had not been immunized with Hepatitis-B," said Minister of Health Budi as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 8.

According to him, this hepatitis vaccination program is intended to keep health workers from getting sick with their hearts.

"I was only taught by Professor David that later the heart could be at higher risk of experiencing complications in the form of cirrhosis or liver cancer," he said.

He revealed that although the disease was chronic for a long time and not acute, it could cause the sufferer to die. However, the first step to prevent it is to undergo immunizations such as vaccination.

"Because uterine cancer is the second cause of death. Why is this given to health workers? Because, actually this is already working, for babies there is hepatitis immunization HB 0, HB 1, 2 and 3," he said.

This vaccination program, he continued, has only begun for groups of health workers throughout Indonesia, which number above 300 thousand.

Meanwhile, in the socialization and initial injection of the Hepatitis-B vaccine, a number of regional officials, such as the Acting Governor of Banten Al Muktabar and his staff as well as the Acting Regent of Tangerang Andi Ony Priantono participated to educate the hepatitis vaccination program.