Concerned by hypertension cases, dr. Ilham Hariyadi Rohmatulloh, S.H., initiated the Jempol Sakti program, winning first place at the provincial level and reaching the top five nationally.
Hypertension cases in Kolok Village, Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, became a particular concern for Ilham Hariyadi Rohmatulloh during his residency at Puskesmas Kolok. The disparity between the number of cases and the circulation of medication sparked the curiosity of this graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS).
Ilham noted that only 18–20 percent of the 1,800 targeted hypertension patients were collecting their medication from Puskesmas Kolok. As a result, hypertension management was suboptimal, and the facility received warnings for failing to meet its targets.
Upon investigation, many factors contributed to this situation—ranging from health workers not meeting residents directly, public distrust of medical services and medications, to a cultural preference for herbal remedies.
“The reason was that when the staff visited their homes, the patients were out in the fields. So we thought, where are all these men? Don’t they ever get sick? It turned out they were simply reluctant to visit the puskesmas,” he said in a virtual interview in early March.
He then adopted a proactive approach by visiting residents’ homes. Ilham and the Puskesmas Kolok team also analyzed local habits. One observation was that village men often gathered at food stalls (warung) in the afternoon.
The team then visited these warung to meet with the men. They conducted health education sessions and blood pressure checks. The initiative received a positive response from residents.
“This is what we need, Doc. The puskesmas staff should come to warung like this so we can also get our health checked,” Ilham recalled one of the men saying.
To address public skepticism toward medical treatment, Ilham devised a creative solution. He conducted research through medical journals to find herbal remedies for lowering blood pressure. One such plant was celery.
Ilham then persuaded hypertension patients to try celery leaves. “But still combined with medication from the puskesmas,” he added. As a result, residents who were initially reluctant to seek treatment began voluntarily getting checkups.
He named the program Jempol Sakti—an acronym for Jemput Bola Sasaran Kolok dengan Hipertensi (Proactive Outreach to Kolok’s Hypertension Patients).
The results were encouraging. The percentage of patients willing to seek treatment jumped from 18–20 percent to 55 percent. Consequently, the risk of hypertension complications decreased as more residents sought medical care.
In 2023, Ilham registered his Jempol Sakti program in the Exemplary Health Worker competition, a program under the Ministry of Health aimed at recognizing outstanding healthcare workers in Indonesia.
After going through various selection stages, Ilham won first place as the Exemplary Puskesmas Doctor in West Sumatra Province. He also advanced to the national level. “By God’s will, I was only able to reach the top five nationally,” he said.
Ilham Hariyadi Rohmatulloh receiving the Exemplary Health Worker award for the Jempol Sakti program. Private doc.
Lifelong Learning and Exploration
The Sukoharjo-born physician did not want to spend his university years studying medicine alone. In his seventh semester, Ilham decided to pursue a law degree at Universitas Islam Batik Surakarta (Uniba). “In the morning I attended classes at UMS, and in the afternoon until evening I was at Uniba,” he recalled.
Ilham admitted that his decision at the time was bold. Studying law was a 180-degree shift from studying medicine. The culture in law school, he said, was more socially oriented compared to medical school.
“Medical science and social science are different—the people are different, the environment is different. But I found a different kind of comfort there. It felt good to meet new people, social people I had never encountered at the Faculty of Medicine,” he added.
Pursuing a dual degree was far from easy. After graduating from FK UMS in 2015, Ilham had to complete his clinical rotations (co-assistantship) at RSUD dr. Hardjono in Ponorogo, East Java, which disrupted his law studies. Fortunately, he managed to complete his law degree in 2017.
As a young doctor, his desire to serve outside Java was strong. With his mother’s blessing, Ilham took an internship at RSUD Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan.
This internship experience opened his eyes to the challenging conditions in remote areas. Referring patients to the district hospital in Tenggarong, the capital of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, could take up to four hours by road.
“The difference is the distance. From Tenggarong to Samboja is four hours. And referring a patient from the puskesmas to the hospital could take four to five hours,” he explained.
After roughly two years of internship, Ilham returned to Java to marry his sweetheart. He then served his residency at Puskesmas Kolok, Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, for eight years.
Ilham later continued his studies in the Specialist Medical Education Program (PPDS) in Anesthesiology at Universitas Andalas, Padang. He is currently completing his anesthesiology residency at RSUP Dr. M. Djamil Padang.
Ilham has always committed himself to purifying his intentions before serving the community. He believes humility must be prioritized to respect and learn from local communities.
At the same time, he is committed to being a lifelong learner. He believes there are many other fields of knowledge that can enrich a doctor’s understanding.
The teachings of Kiai Haji Ahmad Dahlan, which form the values of Muhammadiyah, remain close to his heart even after graduating from UMS. “As members of Muhammadiyah, we must not forget Ahmad Dahlan’s message: bring Muhammadiyah to life, enliven Muhammadiyah, but do not expect to live off Muhammadiyah,” he concluded.
