TB affected area to be revamped<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): Officials plan to revamp two slum residential
\nareas in Benda district near the Soekarno-Hatta International
\nAirport following the detection of six tuberculosis cases in one
\nof the subdistricts.<\/p>\n
Head of Tangerang's health agency Nuriman said over the
\nweekend that Bulakambing and Sukatani were densely populated, and
\na lack of clean water contributed to the unhealthy conditions.<\/p>\n
\"While we treat the six TB-infected people, we will also fix
\nup the area,\" Nuriman said, adding that the cost of the project
\nwould be shared by related state agencies in Tangerang.<\/p>\n
The tuberculosis-infected residents were recently discovered
\nby health agency officials inspecting the sanitary condition in
\nBulakambing, home to 200 families.<\/p>\n
\"The six are now undergoing the six-month-long medication at
\ntheir respective houses,\" Nuriman said.<\/p>\n
Active TB can be passed on to others by coughing, or even
\ntalking.<\/p>\n
The official number of tuberculosis-infected people in the
\ncapital was estimated at 40,000 people early this year.<\/p>\n
Nationally, it is estimated that there are 600,000 TB
\nsufferers.<\/p>\n
Due to the country's prolonged economic downturn, many
\npredicted the rate of infection would double this year, a problem
\ncompounded by a hike in medication costs.<\/p>\n
In Sukatani and Bulakambing subdistricts, other health
\nproblems, including diarrhea and skin-related diseases, were also
\ndetected by health workers.<\/p>\n
Nuriman said it was suspected that water in the areas
\ncontained a high metal content which could endanger public
\nhealth. He said such water should only be used for bathing and
\nwashing clothes.<\/p>\n
Some residents were found to live in inadequate housing, with
\npoor ventilation. A lack of space led some locals to share their
\nhomes with their goats, Nuriman said.<\/p>\n
Tangerang mayoralty spokesman Said Endrawiyanto said
\nBulakambing and Sukatani residents mostly comprised laborers and
\nfarmers.<\/p>\n
He said reconstruction of the two subdistricts was part of the
\ncountry's planned poverty eradication project.<\/p>\n
At least 30 houses, 80 toilets, 16 clean water facilities and
\n16 gardens in which medicinal herbs would be planted were planned
\nfor the area. Said provided no time schedule for the public
\nworks.<\/p>\n
It is expected that rebuilding of the area will help boost the
\nlocal's economic productivity. (emf\/41)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tb-affected-area-to-be-revamped-1447893297",
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