The Health Ministry's Director General of Disease Prevention and Management Maxi Rein Rondonuwu highlighted on Tuesday the importance of cross-sectoral and cross-program collaboration in the efforts to control TB.
He noted that collaborations involving professional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the general public at the family, individual, and special population levels were deemed crucial to increase the detection and handling of TB cases.
The involvement of community organizations, professional organizations, and healthcare institutions is also paramount to the promotive and preventive efforts to tackle TB transmission, he remarked.
In an effort to achieve the TB elimination target, the government has implemented several programs to increase tuberculosis case detection through the Find TB Treatment Until Healed (TOSS TB) approach, create healthy families through TB prevention therapy, increase the quality of health workers for a TB-free Indonesia, create a TB-free workforce for a productive Indonesia, and eliminate the stigma surrounding the disease and support TB patients, Rondonuwu stated.
"I urge health services in regions to mobilize resources according to applicable regulations, actively support TB case-finding activities, and conduct (the dissemination of) education to prevent TB transmission at the family and community level through a contact investigation approach and in special places with screening activities," he emphasized.
He also called on related stakeholders to increase communication, information, and awareness about TB control.
In addition, recording and reporting of the results of TB case-finding activities must be conducted at the family level and in special populations through the Tuberculosis Information System (SITB) on a regular basis, Rondonuwu said.
In the run up to the commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2023, the Health Ministry is intensifying campaigns to increase understanding, awareness, and role of the community in the efforts to control TB.
The commemoration of 2023 World Tuberculosis Day carries the theme of "Let's End TB Together, Indonesia Can Do It!"
According to government data, over 900 thousand people are still living with TB in Indonesia, and to this end, the government continues to make efforts to suppress transmission of the disease.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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