The role of nurses to control beta thalassemia disease in Indonesia: A perspective

Thalassemia is the most common genetic disease in Indonesia and is passed on to the next generation following an autosomal recessive Mendelian inheritance pattern. The number of thalassemia sufferers in Indonesia increased from 4896 in 2012 to 8761 in 2018. The latest data in 2019 shows a significant increase to 10,500 patients. Community nurses who work at the Public Health Center, have full roles and responsibilities in carrying out promotive and preventive efforts against thalassemia cases. Promotive efforts that can be carried out are guided by government policies (Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia) which stipulate primary efforts in the form of education about thalassemia disease, prevention efforts, and diagnostic tests that can be taken. To optimize the promotive and preventive efforts, community nurses need to collaborate with midwives and cadres at integrated service posts. Interprofessional collaboration between stakeholders can strengthen the government's consideration in making policies for dealing with thalassemia cases in Indonesia.