By Fitri Maryono<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nPurwokerto, Central Java<\/p>\n
Lacking funds makes the government find it hard to curb the
\nspread of the contagious tuberculosis (TB) which claimed 140,000
\npeople nationwide per annum, according to an official.<\/p>\n
Umar Fahmi Achmadi, Directorate General of Contagious Disease
\nEradication and Environmental Sanitation said for the medicine
\nalone, the government must set aside Rp 35 billion (US$3,7
\nmillion) per year.<\/p>\n
He, however, could not reveal how much money was really needed
\nto fund TB eradication programs. \"The government also receives
\nassistance from various countries such as U.S, Australia, and the
\nNetherlands.\"<\/p>\n
The medicine was always distributed for free to TB patients
\nthrough around 7,000 public health centers in the country, he
\nsaid. \"Most of TB patients come from families of low income
\nbracket.\"<\/p>\n
\"Funding is the main contraint for the government to combat
\nthe diseases. But we have made global commitment and cooperated
\nwith other countries which have high TB cases to stop the spread
\nof this disease,\" Umar Fahmi told The Jakarta Post on the
\nsidelines of working meeting with Commission VII of the House of
\nRepresentaties in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Umar Fahmi revealed, the number of TB new patients had yet to
\ndecrease significantly with around 500,000 new cases found this
\nyear. \"While the total number of Indonesians transmitted with
\nthis diseases is estimated around 420,000.\"<\/p>\n
However, he said the government would continue battling the
\ndisease by intensifying integrated TB progam DOTS (Direct
\nObserved Therapy) shortcourse introduced in 1999.<\/p>\n
The programme consist of five components: political
\ncommitment, diagnosis by smear microscopy, well-organized
\ndistribution of TB Drugs, directly observed treatment and good
\nreporting and recording systems.<\/p>\n
\"By intensifying this program, we hope we'll be able to
\neliminate TB completely by 2010,\" Umar Fahmi said.<\/p>\n
Last year in Purwokerto, Central Java<\/p>\n
Direktur Pemberantasan Penyakit Menular Langsung(P2ML) Departemen
\n, Haikin Rahmat<\/p>\n
Haikin Rahmat dalam acara pembahasan nasional penyakit menular
\npara pejabat Kantor Wilayah Departemen Kesehatan Provinsi se-
\nIndonesia yang berlangsung di Baturaden itu mengatakan saat ini
\ndi Indonesia jumalh penderita TBC secara keseluruhan adalah
\n583.000 orang.<\/p>\n
Yang menjadi masalah menurut Haikin Ramhat bahwa sebagian besar
\nmasyarakat Indonesia sulit diajak untuk merealisasikan upaya
\npenanggulangan penyakit menular ini yang diantaranya dengan
\nmenghjindari rokok. TBC menurutnya kebanyakan menyerang
\nmasyarakat bawah terutama karena kurang memperhatikan kesehatan
\nlingkungan, perumahan kumuh, kemiskinan serta adanya kesenjangan
\ndalam memperoleh akses di rumahsakit-rumah sakit tertentu untuk
\nmendapatkan pelayanan kesehatan.<\/p>\n
Departemen Kesehatan menurut Haikin telah berupaya menekan
\nseminimal mungkin jumlah korban dan penderita dengan cara
\nmemberikan penyluhan hidup sehat dan pengobatan geratis. Namun
\nkendalanya adalah tidak setiap Puskesmas di daerah memberikan
\ninformasi yang cukup mengenai fasilitas tersebut. Selain itu
\nmasih banyak pula budaya malas berobat di kalangan masyarakat
\nbawah, karena takut biaya yang tinggi. Pihak Puskesmas dan Rumah
\nsakit menurutnya sering pula kurang cepat menangkap keluhan
\nmasyarakat dan terkesan lambat dalam menangani kaum miskin.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is still ranked third in the world after China and
\nIndia in the number of TB deaths.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/by-fitri-maryono-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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