"Alertness by expanding the coverage of TB early detection in a number of regions that are prone to an increase in cases must be carried out immediately to prevent an increase of TB cases potential in the country," she said in a statement issued here on Saturday.
She also noted that efforts to prevent the spread of several infectious diseases must be heightened because TB cases rose again for the first time in 10 years in 2021.
Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of TB cases globally continued to decline each year and reached their lowest level in 2020, namely 10.1 million cases. However, their number rose again to 10.5 million in 2021.
The number of deaths due to TB also showed an increasing trend: from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2021.
The Global TB Report in 2022 showed that the highest number of TB cases in the world was recorded in the productive age group of 25 to 34 years. In Indonesia, the highest number of TB cases is in the 45–54 age group.
Moerdijat said that the increase in cases must be a serious concern for policy makers.
She noted that several prevention strategies must be consistently prioritized by expanding efforts for early detection, promoting the implementation of a healthy lifestyle, and increasing the community's understanding of TB symptoms and treatment.
The MPR deputy speaker urged the central and regional governments to be proactive in making promotive and preventive efforts to prevent an increase in TB cases.
Especially, the TB treatment process, which takes a relatively long time, needs a good understanding of the community so that TB transmission and death cases can be suppressed.
"I really hope stakeholders, both the government and the community, can build a strong collaboration through several programs in handling disease spread prevention in the country," she remarked.
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Translator: Narda Margaretha, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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