Press Release

Minister of Health Supports "120/80" Campaign Regarding Celebration The World Hypertension Day

Jakarta, 29 May 2007- Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari support the "120/80" campaign were together conducted by the Indonesian Heart Foundation, Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital, the Indonesian Society of Hypertension and Novartis Indonesia. In order to increase the public awareness about the dangers of hypertension as well as to commemorate the World Hypertension Day, celebrated all over the world on May 17, the four institutions were collaborating to conduct series of "120/80" campaign activities such as talk show, exhibition, and free blood pressure screening for the public.

Novartis Indonesia's Head of Marketing, dr Iskandar Linardi said, the World Hypertension Day this year was celebrated in 26 countries. In Indonesia, the campaign was focus to call on the people to maintain their blood pressure at the healthy zone of below 120/80.

Isknadar Linardi adds, the hypertension disease is quite unique, easy to detect but hard to find the exact sources. The hypertension also called as the silent killer because it is often without clear symptoms. Through the various events done it was expected the public aware that the normal or ideal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg and they should be careful if their blood pressures exceed 140/90.

"We hope that the public will become more aware that hypertension is preventable with healthy diet, and for those who has suffered from hypertension, better treatment is appropriate so that the theme of the campaign is Better Diet, Better Drug for Better Blood Pressure," he says.

The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Hypertension Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment reveals that the higher the blood pressure is the higher the risks of heart attack , heart failure, stroke and kidney failure are. The recommended healthy zone for adults’ blood pressure is below 120 for systolic and 80 for diastolic.

"Blood pressure at 120-139 per 80-89 is categorized as pre-hypertension, and an improvement in life style is needed to bring it down, whereas the blood pressure of over 140/90 is hypertension which needs medication," says dr. Andang Joesoef SpJP(K), the Director for Medical Services at the Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital.

Meanwhile, dr Arieska Ann Soenarta, SpJP(K) of the Indonesian Society of Hypertension adds that the latest clinical test in the worlds indicated that most hypertension patients successfully control their blood pressures after taking two or more anti-hypertension medicines. "As a health expert, our first suggestion to hypertension patients is to change their life styles while taking one anti-hypertension drug. But, if such suggestion is unsuccessful in achieving the desired blood pressure level, we will review if treatment with a more precise dosage, or combined medication are needed," she says.

She adds that people generally think that hypertension is just a "western" disease. The truth is the epidemic is on the rise in developed and developing nations, and if uncontrolled will grow 50% in the next 15 years. The celebration of the World Hypertension Day is expected to slow the increase in the epidemic. For more information about the World Hypertension Day events, please call toll-free number 0800-1402814, or e-mail peduli.hipertensi@novartis.com, or visit www.worldhypertensionleague.org.