He said that Indonesia has a climate that supports TB transmission prevention, so such efforts must be given due attention.
“Need for us to understand that we are looking for people with TB (suspected patients), not people who are already coughing and experiencing shortness of breath and then TB. The impact at home, neighbors, playmates, or even close friends can be infected,” he said in a statement in Jakarta, Friday.
Tohir made the statement during a coordination meeting held to evaluate TB eradication in regions and a discussion on concrete steps to accelerate TB elimination with regional governments, held in a hybrid format in Jakarta.
He also emphasized the importance of managing health budget allocations optimally, so that TB control programs can be effectively targeted. He also encouraged the early detection of TB.
Based on data from the 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report, Indonesia was the country with the second-highest estimated TB cases and deaths in the world in 2023.
On the same occasion, acting director general of disease control at the Health Ministry, Murti Utami, emphasized the need for regional governments to address TB through four main steps -- early detection, treatment, prevention, health promotion -- and building multi-sectoral involvement.
She said that the central government will distribute medicines to regions, and urged regional authorities to closely monitor TB patients to ensure they complete their treatment.
“The role of our colleagues in district/city is to monitor these patients until they take their medication,” she added.
Related news: Ministry calls for active public participation in TB prevention
Related news: Free tuberculosis treatment to protect human resources: PCO
Translator: Fianda Sjofjan Rassat, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
