Govt Urges People to be Aware of Cancer

Jakarta, InfoPublik - the World Health Organization's (WHO) recorded that currently 8.2 million people worldwide die every year due to cancer, 4 million of whom by the age of 30-69 years. This figure increased from only 7.6 million in 2008 and is expected to increase to 11.5 million in 2025.

If there is no effective and massive prevention and control, other new cases of cancer are also predicted to increase from 14.1 million to 19.3 million people in 2025.

Related to the issue, During the series of event in commemorating the World Cancer Day 2017, Indonesia’s Health Ministry urged the public to be aware of cancer, since the disease can strike anyone regardless of their age.The World Cancer Day 2017 is commemorated on  February 4, 2017 raising the theme “We Can, I Can”, to spread the message that everyone, group or individual, can take a role in overcoming problems related to cancer.

"Health Ministry is committed that during 2016 to 2019, it will constantly increase public awareness on what can they do either individually or collectively. Our spirit is to always be aware on cancer and to promote Healthy People Movement (Germas)," disease prevention and control director general Mohammad Subuh told the press at in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/2).

According to him, the disease is not always related to a certain age, because from infants to adults, the possibilities of developing cancer always present. "The risk to be affected by cancer is always there, especially if we are living in unfavorable environmental condition, it  will influence the development of disease," he said.

Though cancer is non-communicable disease, it is closely associated directly or indirectly with infectious diseases. "For example,high exposure to bacteria and fungi can decrease  immunity (body resistance) and it will drive cancer development," he said.

He added that it is important to do early detection and to immediately check to health care services in case of any suspicious abnormalities so we still have a chance to do diagnostics which can suppress the possibility of morbidity, mortality and disability. "We should suppress this possibility with early detection at the level of communities, individuals and health care services," he said.

In Indonesia, the prevalence of cancer is relatively high. According to Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) 2013 the prevalence of cancer in Indonesian population was 1.4 per 1000 population, or around 347,000 people. In addition, the expensive funding for treatment becomes a problem for the government and society. According to BPJS, in 2015 approximately 1,325,776 cancer patients received treatment and spent  a total cost of Rp2.29 trillion. (Translator: Sugiarti)