TEMPO.CO, Lhoksumawe - The Health Ministry released its successful achievement in handling HIV-AIDS and malaria in 2015-2016, but Tuberculosis (TBC) remains a threat for the Indonesian people.
“TBC is still a threat to society, in 2015-16, we discovered dozens of people who are infected by it in Aceh,” Sheep Indonesia Foundation Area Manager Aceh Husaini said on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Husaini said that the reports from the Health Ministry in 2015-16 and the 2017-19 Ministry of Health’s Working Plan did not mention the development or work plan to control TBC. Whereas its on-field prevalence rate is extremely hight, particularly in eastern Aceh.
In 2015-16, said Husaini, a patient of TBC was found in two KPT groups comprising 35 people (12 patients in eastern Aceh and 23 in Tamiang Aceh).
In August 2016, 54 people are suspected to be infected by TBC. “This has yet been successfully checked due to a limited facility and service from the closest health center,” Husaini said.
Husaini said that TBC is not included in the ministry’s priority, meaning that there is no countermeasure cost. Whereas TBC is a deadly infectious disease and require expensive medical cost. TBC control is not only about medicine, but also closely linked to behavior, lifestyle, and sanitation.
“We expect the government to include TBC as its priority in controlling infectious disease,” he said.
IMRAN.M.A
