TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded a number of non-communicable disease such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and heart account for 66 percent of the death rate in Indonesia. Chairman of the Indonesian Risk Awareness Society (Masindo), Dimas Syailendra, assessed that the application of the concept of risk reduction in tobacco consumption is important and urgent to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Indonesia.
Dimas said that reducing the prevalence and impact of non-communicable diseases requires the active role of all stakeholders, from the government, the community, to the community. The aim is to recognize and be aware of the triggering factors for non-communicable diseases and to convey information related to ways to reduce the risk of disease it and its implementation.
“The high mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases cannot be separated from the low public awareness of the causes of the disease and ways to reduce the risk of the disease,” he said.
“Therefore, let’s make World Health Day which falls this month to rebuild awareness of the triggering factors and risk reduction actions,” said Dimas.
According to Dimas, regardless of how good the health facilities in a country are, the concept of risk reduction, which prioritizes prevention methods by applying a minimal risk lifestyle, will be much more effective in maintaining people’s health and life expectancy.
“We know prevention is always better than cure,” he said.
One of the risk reduction behaviors that can be applied is quitting smoking. Smoking, which goes through the combustion process, triggers the formation of various harmful chemical compounds that have the potential to cause various diseases. Smoking is one of the risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
However, Dimas realized stop smoking totally not an easy thing. Therefore, adult smokers may consider alternative tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine bags to switch to if it is difficult to quit immediately. A number of studies reveal alternative tobacco products can reduce the risk by 90 percent 95 percent than conventional cigarettes.
“Currently technology is very advanced, there are various choices of alternative tobacco products which have been scientifically proven to have a much smaller risk profile than cigarettes. Adult smokers who have difficulty quitting can use this product as an alternative to fulfill their nicotine intake while reducing the risks and externalities they face,” added Dimas.
On a separate occasion, Chairman of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI), Nurul Falah Eddy Pariang, said several countries have proven that the risk reduction concept approach brings benefits to public health, particularly related to non-communicable diseases. However, the lack of research related to this concept causes limited information so that research related to the concept and its implementation needs to be encouraged.
According to Nurul, without research it will be difficult to draw conclusive conclusions in order to maximize the application of risk reduction approaches for public health.
“Therefore, all relevant parties must be one voice and be serious in encouraging qualified research and disseminating the results. If necessary, special policies will be carried out so that this concept can be understood and applied by the community for a greater purpose to improve public health and life expectancy due to non-communicable diseases,” he explained.
Also read: The Importance of Early Detection of Diseases from the Age of 15 Years
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