Hepatitis B carriers face discrimination: Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians who carry the Hepatitis B virus are
\noften discriminated against when applying for jobs, an expert on
\nthe liver disease said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dr. Nurul Akbar, chairman of the Association of Indonesian
\nLiver Research (PPHI), said many companies, including major ones,
\nare known to have refused to employ people who tested positive
\nfor Hepatitis B for fear that they might infect others.<\/p>\n
\"The virus cannot be passed on easily, such as through shaking
\nhands or drinking from the same glass. There is nothing to fear,\"
\nhe said, adding: \"Hepatitis B carriers are harmless.\"<\/p>\n
\"In other countries such as the U.S., Hepatitis B carriers are
\nallowed to work. How come it's the other way around here? They
\nhave the right to earn a living,\" Nurul told The Jakarta Post
\nafter briefing the media about an international meeting on liver
\ndisease to take place in Jakarta this coming weekend.<\/p>\n
Most large companies in Indonesia make medical checks
\nmandatory for people applying for work, on top of the regular
\naptitude and attitude tests.<\/p>\n
Nurul said he knew of two giant Indonesian companies that told
\napplicants who were found to carry the Hepatitis B virus to
\nundergo medical treatment first before commencing their job.<\/p>\n
PPHI estimates that some 11 million Indonesians have
\ncontracted the Hepatitis B virus.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by Hepatitis
\nviruses, which range from A to H. The most fatal are Hepatitis B
\nand C, but they can be cured. The virus resides in the blood,
\nsperm, saliva and other bodily fluids. And it is also responsible
\nfor liver cancer and cirrhosis.<\/p>\n
Physically, Hepatitis B carriers are just as healthy as
\nothers, Nurul said.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis B can be transmitted through the sharing of personal
\nitems containing bodily fluid, such as toothbrushes, razor blades
\nor needles used for tattooing or injecting drugs. It can also be
\ntransmitted through sexual contact or blood transfusion.<\/p>\n
Nurul, who will chair the international conference, said only
\n10 percent of Hepatitis B carriers eventually develop related
\ndiseases such as cirrhosis, jaundice or liver cancer.<\/p>\n
The International Meeting on Liver Disease to be held from
\nSept. 14 to Sept. 16 is intended to raise public awareness of the
\nvarious liver diseases, including various kinds of Hepatitis.<\/p>\n
Some 40 international experts from Canada, France, Belgium,
\nSingapore and Indonesia will present papers on the treatment of
\nliver disease and related research.<\/p>\n
The event is sponsored by the International Liver Pathology
\nGroup (ELVES), Atma Jaya University, PPHI, the Indonesian
\nAssociation of Pathologists (IAPI) and the School of Medicine at
\nthe University of Indonesia. (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hepatitis-b-carriers-face-discrimination-expert-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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