Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said TB cases are most common among low-income households listed in Deciles 1–4 of the national socioeconomic database (DTSEN), which covers welfare recipients.
He said substandard housing conditions require urgent attention, as poor ventilation allows TB bacteria to persist indoors for extended periods.
“Tuberculosis bacteria can die after 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight exposure. But in poorly ventilated homes lacking sunlight and airflow, the bacteria can survive for months,” he said in Jakarta.
The ministry is coordinating with the Housing and Settlements Ministry to finalize technical aspects of the renovation program, including criteria such as home ownership rather than rental status.
In 2026, the program will target 2,000 homes, prioritizing the poorest households, particularly those in Deciles 1 and 2.
“We are prioritizing those most in need. If this proves effective, we will propose expanding the program to 10,000 homes next year,” Octavianus said.
The initiative will be implemented in phases, with funding support from the Housing and Settlements Ministry.
The Health Ministry has submitted data on around 3,000 homes as potential beneficiaries and is also working with the Social Affairs Ministry to align assistance programs.
Octavianus stressed that addressing TB requires coordinated efforts across sectors, as the disease is closely linked to poverty and inadequate living conditions.
He added that the ministry has intensified coordination with the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees regional hospitals and community health centers.
Improving housing conditions is seen as a key preventive measure alongside medical treatment and public health campaigns.
Indonesia aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030 under a national target set in Presidential Regulation No. 67 of 2021.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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