In July, Ira and Katamataku launched a social service activity for leprosy treatment in St. Damian Lewoleba Hospital, Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), treating 265 leprosy patients.
By
Kornelis Kema Ama
·5 minutes read
KORNELIS KEWA AMA
Yunia Irawati
Indonesia still ranks third among countries with the largest number of leprosy patients in the world after India and Brazil. The stigma attached to people suffering from leprosy also remains prevalent. Yunia Irawati has been striving to overcome this condition by initiating a movement, Katamataku.
Through Katamataku, Yunia “Ira” Irawati, a doctor sub specializing in plastic reconstruction, has invited her fellow lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, to join the movement aimed at preventing leprosy, healing leprosy patients and clearing the stigma. Ira sought the participation of lecturers from other faculties like psychology, public health, agriculture and animal husbandry.
In July, Ira and Katamataku launched a social service activity for leprosy treatment in St. Damian Lewoleba Hospital, Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), treating 265 leprosy patients. They found a number of patients with red or white ringworm-like patches on their skin, which were symptoms of leprosy. If left untreated, leprosy bacteria would spread and damage body organs.
Treatment takes 5-6 months. In the MB (multibacillary) type or wet leprosy, the quantity of bacteria on the skin is quite large and infectious. Treatment takes 9 months to over a year.
The treatment of leprosy depends on its types. For the PB (pauci-basilary) type, it is dry and scaly. This type of leprosy has a very small quantity of mycobacterium leprae bacteria on the skin that it is considered noninfectious. Treatment takes 5-6 months. In the MB (multibacillary) type or wet leprosy, the quantity of bacteria on the skin is quite large and infectious. Treatment takes 9 months to over a year.
Fortunately, leprosy bacteria are not as easily transmittable as Covid-19 viruses. Leprosy infection occurs in close contact and over a long time. If finally infected, leprosy patients can be cured with prompt, regular and routine medication.
Under certain states of immunity, even patients who have taken medication can have a relapse. This notably happens in regions where leprosy is endemic, such as east of Indonesia, including NTT.
This is, among others, caused by a dirty environment. However, according to Ira, there is another factor, which is genetic. “It is not yet studied and we want to explore it further. The question is, why are leprosy cases limited in the western part of Indonesia, unlike in the eastern part,” she said.
Leprosy bacteria attack peripheral nerves and fingers or toes. The parts affected become numb so that when there is an injury, they are deprived of sensation. The injury will thus spread to body organs. If this condition worsens, the body organs damaged by leprosy have to be amputated in order to prevent further spreading.
Leprosy bacteria also attack facial parts like ears and eyelid nerves. The eyelids affected cannot close. The periodic eye-blinking is also disrupted. Consequently, the eyes become dry.
KORNELIS KEWA AMA
Yunia Irawati
The cornea will then dry, slide down and fold inward. Gradually the cornea will be damaged. As a result, eyesight will decline, even to the point of causing blindness.
“This can actually be prevented if we detect the case at an early stage and treat it. If the defect is serious, the function of the relevant body part is very difficult to restore. We can only prevent it from spreading to other body organs,” said Ira.
Any defect will have a considerable impact on leprosy sufferers. At least they become less productive as several body functions are adversely affected. The further consequence is that they impose a burden on their families.
Ira has been trying to eliminate the stigma by educating residents.
Socially speaking, lepers also have to bear the stigma of disease transmitters and are shunned by the public. Ira has been trying to eliminate the stigma by educating residents.
She began by publishing books for children to fight the stigma ascribed to leprosy sufferers. The books were distributed to schools free of charge.
Ira and Katamataku are also attempting to reawaken the economic independence of leprosy patients. With the assistance of a number of lecturers of agriculture and animal husbandry, Ira provides guidance for people with leprosy to undertake farming and livestock breeding in leprosy villages such as the one in Sitanala Central Public Hospital (RSUP), Tangerang, Banten.
Inspiration
Ira was inspired to create the Katamataku movement when finishing her plastic reconstruction doctorate program at Gadjah Mada University (UGM). She was dealing with a number of leprosy patients affected by eyelid anomalies.
“Coincidentally, my eye sub-specialization concerns plastic reconstruction. It includes the handling of eyelid abnormalities,” she revealed.
With these cases, Ira devised a specific technique that can be applied by eye specialists in general, not only plastic reconstruction experts. “It was my idea. So, this technique can also be handled by ophthalmologists in general, including those in regions,” said Ira.
Thanks to the research, Ira succeeded in earning her doctor’s degree in plastic reconstruction. Yet, she thought, what would leprosy patients with eyelid anomalies derive from her research?
KORNELIS KEWA AMA
Yunia Irawati and the Katamataku team of doctors were welcomed by Lembata local government officials at St Damian Hospital, Friday (29/7/2022).
Prompted by the question, she set up the Katamataku movement. The urge to start the movement was also triggered by the fact that Indonesia still ranks third among countries with the largest number of leprosy sufferers in the world. The rank has been occupied by Indonesia even since Ira was a medical intern at the University of Indonesia 30 years ago.
In 2018, Katamataku began its activity in RSUP Dr. Sitanala, which provides services for leprosy and general patients. The activity expanded to North Sulawesi and finally to the areas in NTT.
Yunia Irawati
Born: Malang, 18 June 1968
Children: Three
Education: Plastic Reconstruction Subspecialist, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University
Occupation:
- Vice President, Asia Pacific Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (APSOPRS)
- Head of Trauma Center, JEC Eye Hospitals
- Staff in the Division of Plastic Surgery and Eye Reconstruction, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia
