Ensure free healthcare to improve public nutrition: Minister

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Jakarta(ANTARA) –
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said efforts to improve community nutrition needed to be accompanied by free and equitable provision of health facilities.

He made the remarks in Jakarta on Monday in response to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)’s recent move to establish a National Nutrition Agency.

He said there are two types of health interventions, the first being therapeutic, such as interventions in hospitals.

The second category is promotional and preventive services, provided through comprehensive health posts (Posiandus）、Community Health Centers（Health Center) and other medical facilities, and provide balanced nutrition to ensure people remain healthy, he added.

“Preventive measures are being taken to prevent people from getting sick or to keep them healthy. One of the prevention programs is screening or early detection,” he said.

He also expressed hope that in the future Posiandus and Health Center will be able to test the syrup for the presence of glycol compounds or chemicals, such as acetaminophen, that may cause kidney disease in children.

“If there was a test for ethylene glycol, we could do it at the provincial level,” he said.

Sadikin stressed that in order to carry out early detection, health services in various regions need adequate laboratory facilities.

“There are two types of health laboratories: clinical laboratories such as hospitals and public health laboratories,” he said.

The Minister further stated that in order to support communities in improving nutritional status, Posiandus and Health Center Must be able to check air quality and sanitation.

“Check if the air is polluted, check if the water is clean. That can actually be done starting in the public health lab. Persiandou, Health Center Be it in the district or in the city,” he added.

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