Dr. dr. Loeki Enggar Fitri Kes.,SpParK officially announced as professor of clinical parasitology at Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (FKUB) by the Rector and the Board of the University Senate on Tuesday (15.11.16) in Widyaloka UB.
Prof. Loeki in her inaugural speech addressed the theme, “The Role of Clinical Parasitologist in the Development of Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria in Indonesia”. It described the role and functions of clinical parasitologist, especially in the field of research. She said, becoming a doctor in the field of Clinical Parasitology not only required ability to treat patients, but also will to develop research and service / community service.
Research of Prof. Loeki focused on malaria. “The problems that occur in malaria should not be underestimated. Malaria became one of main causes of death in the world. The need for research is inevitable, among others, to anticipate the re-establishment of malaria and operational support malaria research program to achieve national malaria elimination, “said Vice Dean II of FKUB.
She also presented research studies that have been done of which aimed to produce new products in diagnostics and treatment of malaria and further address the problem of malaria drug resistance. Malaria diagnosis should be done with laboratory confirmation microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (Rapid Diagnostic Test / RDT), but the diagnosis still cannot distinguish microscopic morphology of some species, so that the examination of biomolecular like PCR have been considered because it provides more accurate results.
Results of the study done by Prof. Loeki showed that the sensitivity of nested PCR was higher than the blood smear.
Prof Loeki said that the first-line anti-malarial drugs today are Artemisinin. Some reports have demonstrated the decrease in the efficacy of Artemisinin. “Therefore, the development of research aims to produce a new anti-malarial products,” she said.
Prof. Dr.dr.Loeki Enggar Fitri, M.Kes.SpParK has conducted research according to her road map since 1997. Now the research team of FKUB’s clinical parasitologist is testing some herbs that have been used for the treatment of malaria by residents of endemic areas empirically. In Papua, for example, usage of red fruit and yellow rope herbs. These herbal plants are currently being researched and tested in both in vivo and in vitro. In addition to the two plants, the team also has conducted tests on plants and microbes which proved to contain potent anti malaria.
