Government Adds Health Facilities

DOK DPR ACEH

Members of the Aceh House of Representatives review the treatment of children with acute kidney disorders at the Zainoel Abidin Regional General Hospital, Banda Aceh, Monday (24/10/2022). Of the 29 patients with acute kidney disorders, 22 people died, five recovered, and two were under treatment.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government plans to add health facilities to treat cases of atypical progressive acute kidney disorders in children. Surveillance is also being improved to get a complete picture of the cases.

Head of the Jakarta Health Office, Widyastuti, said on Wednesday (26/10/2022) that the number of referral hospitals for acute kidney disorders in Jakarta was not enough when compared with the number of existing cases. As of 25 October 2022, the Jakarta Health Office noted that there were around 90 children with symptoms of acute kidney disorders. The patients were not all residents of Jakarta. Some of the patients wee residents of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi and other areas.

"Initially there were two referral hospitals [in Jakarta], namely the RSCM [Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital] and the Harapan Kita Hospital [mother and child facility]," said Widyastuti.

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Related to this, the Jakarta provincial administration is preparing a number of type A and B hospitals to treat acute kidney disorders in children. The hospitals are the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Tarakan, RSUD Pasar Minggu, RSUD Pasar Rebo and RSUD Koja.

In addition, the health human resources are not enough for the number of cases of acute kidney disorders being discovered. Widyastuti said there were at least three pediatric kidney specialists in Jakarta. Anticipatory steps are being taken if cases of acute kidney disorders rise.

"We are sending our personnel to carry out [patient] treatment in the RSCM. While studying the cases, they are providing additional work force there. If patient services need expanding, we are ready," said Widyastuti.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A nurse walks out of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) room at the Kiara Maternal and Child Health Center (PKIA) Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Friday (21/10/2022). This PICU room treats 11 pediatric patients with acute kidney disorders.

Previously, Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril said that so far there were 14 referral hospitals for acute kidney disorders set by the government. The hospitals included Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, Dr. Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta, Prof Ngoerah Hospital in Denpasar and Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Hospital in Palembang. The RSCM is a national referral hospital for acute kidney disorders.

"Of these 14 [hospitals], of course we will add according to the provincial capitals that have the ability, both doctors and hemodialysis equipment," said Syahril.

Eight patients died and most of them were under five years old. We were struggling because when they came to us, they were in a tough condition.

In West Java, cases of acute kidney disease in children continue to increase. West Java Health Office head Nina Susana Dewi said that the number of cases of progressive acute kidney disease in West Java had reached 41 patients and 16 of them had died. This figure had increased from 35 patients.

The acting president director of Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Yana Akhmad, explained that of the 12 cases handled, more than 50 percent of them had died. Meanwhile, there was one patient who was still being treated.

“We have not received any new patients since the arrival of the three cases last week. Eight patients died and most of them were under five years old. We were struggling because when they came to us, they were in a tough condition. We were concerned about that," he said.

Surveillance

The government is strengthening surveillance to anticipate a spike in atypical progressive acute kidney disease cases in children. This step is taken to obtain data accuracy and integrity so that the handling policies are evidence-based and provide a sense of security and protection for the public.

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"We see that there are still many potential cases that have not been properly recorded. In order to prevent this from becoming an 'iceberg' phenomenon, we have strengthened the surveillance activities," said Executive Office of the President expert staff member Brian Sri Prahastuti at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta.

Contacted separately, the director of the Postgraduate Study of Yarsi University, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, urged the government to immediately find the cause of acute kidney disorders in children. Without a clear cause, patient management will not be optimal. The addition of health facilities can be avoided if the cause is known. ( S K A / RT G/ C I P/ V I O/ CA S )

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.