Indonesia third in tuberculosis cases in the world<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is third in the world in number of
\ntuberculosis patients with over 583,000 recorded infections last
\nyear, of which 140,000 died.<\/p>\n
\"From the contagious diseases group, tuberculosis is the
\nprimary cause of death in the country,\" Minister of Health Achmad
\nSujudi told reporters here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Around 400 people die of the disease every day,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The minister said East Nusa Tenggara is the province most
\nprone to tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
Sujudi could not give an estimate of the total number of
\npeople infected with the disease saying that it was a colossal
\ntask to record it for the whole country.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that there had been a marked increase in
\ntuberculosis since 1997 in conjunction with the spread of the
\nHuman Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV).<\/p>\n
Sujudi explained that HIV stimulates the onset of the
\ntuberculosis germ which is already in the human body.<\/p>\n
\"Almost one-third of all people have the potential to be
\ninfected,\" Sujudi said adding that between 10 to 15 people are
\nprone to be infected by each individual tuberculosis sufferer.<\/p>\n
He said data from last year's patients indicate that around 70
\npercent of those infected were working age. Even those who
\nrecovered needed three or four months before they could resume
\nworking.<\/p>\n
According to Sujudi, translated into monetary figures, lost
\nproductivity due to tuberculosis has cost the country 20 to 30
\npercent of annual household income.<\/p>\n
\"Realizing the magnitude of the problem, the government is
\ncommitted to allocating a substantial amount of the state budget
\nto fight the disease and join an international network to stop
\ntuberculosis,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Chief of the National Development Planning Agency, Djunaidi
\nHadisumarto, said 16.9 billion (US$2.4 million) has been
\nearmarked in the 2000 budget for free tuberculosis medication.<\/p>\n
\"The fund was allocated because almost 60 percent of people
\nwith tuberculosis are poor people,\" Djunaidi said, adding that
\nthe government also planned to provide free tuberculosis testing
\nand training for medical staff to treat the disease.<\/p>\n
Sujudi also noted that his office will assist the
\nimplementation of the Direct Observation Treatment Short Course
\n(DOTS) strategy for people with tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
The strategy employs a strict regimen of medication for an
\nuninterrupted six-month period.<\/p>\n
DOTS has proved an effective cure with a success rate of 85
\npercent.<\/p>\n
\"To provide close observation, we will increase the number of
\ncommunity health centers (Puskesmas) that can treat the disease.
\nSo far, only 51 percent of the 7,500 Puskesmas across the country
\ncan provide such a service,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia actually adopted the strategy in 1995 but so far
\nonly 30 percent of tuberculosis patients are being treated with
\nit.<\/p>\n
The government has set a target of treating 70 percent of all
\ntuberculosis patients by the year 2005.<\/p>\n
\"Our main problem is to find the people with the disease,
\nthat's why people should know that we are giving free medication
\nfor treatment,\" Sujudi said. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-third-in-tuberculosis-cases-in-the-world-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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