The government is tightening health checks at the country's entry points, especially at airports, for travelers from abroad. This is to prevent the entry of new variants of Mpox into Indonesia.
Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) M. Syahril explained that strict screening is carried out by requiring every international traveler, both Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals who enter Indonesia, to fill out an electronic self-declaration form called the SATUSEHAT Health Pass.
"Strict screening is carried out following the discovery of the Clade Ib variant outside the African region. The Mpox Clade Ib virus is indicated to have a higher degree of severity, faster transmission, including being transmitted to the child population," he said.
M. Syahril said that the Ministry of Health has coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) regarding the implementation of the SATUSEHAT Health Pass for foreign travelers by sending a letter on August 26, 2024.
The Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Air Transportation followed up by issuing Circular Letter Number: SE 5 DJPU of 2024 concerning the Use of SATUSEHAT Health Pass for Foreign Travelers, on Tuesday (8/27/2024).
SE 5 DJPU of 2024 concerning the Use of SATUSEHAT Health Pass for Foreign Travelers
In the circular, the Ministry of Transportation asked Air Transportation Business Entities and Foreign Air Transportation Companies that serve flights abroad to make four efforts to prevent the transmission of Mpox in Indonesia.
One of them is to socialize and inform every traveler who will fly to Indonesia to fill out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass before departure.
"Passengers must fill out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass, before or during check-in at departure. This is to prevent the accumulation of passengers at the country's entry points," he explained.
Filling out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form can be done online via the page https://sshp.kemkes.go.id, so travelers do not need to download a new application.
Passengers only need to fill out the available form. After the form is filled in, a barcode will appear containing the passenger's health and travel history. The barcode will be scanned by officers at the airport arrival gate. After the barcode is scanned, please save it.
M. Syahril added, if within 21 days after traveling abroad, or coming from an endemic and affected country or area, passengers experience illness, they must immediately seek treatment at the nearest health care facility and show the SATUSEHAT Health Pass barcode to health workers.
"Filling out this electronic form is part of our early warning system in detecting Mpox. For that, if within 21 days of arriving in Indonesia you experience illness, or feel fever and other symptoms of Mpox, we urge you to go to the hospital immediately and show the barcode," explained M. Syahril.
Here are the steps to fill out the SATUSEHAT Health Pass for International Travelers:
This news is broadcast by the Bureau of Communication and Public Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. For more information, please contact the Halo Kemenkes hotline number via the hotline number 1500-567, SMS 081281562620 and email address kontak@kemkes.go.id.
Acting Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Services
dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, M.Epid