200 TB patients in dire need of treatment

JAYAPURA, Papua: At least 200 tuberculosis (TB) patients in the mountainous regency of Bintang, Papua, are in desperate need of medical treatment, a local official has said.

The patients -- both adults and children -- were in a serious condition since they had suffered from the infectious disease for some time, head of the district's health office, Paulus Sumino said here Saturday.

"Despite several calls for help, no medical assistance has come, either from the central government or the provincial administration, while the condition of the patients is increasingly getting worse," he said.

Apart from TB, he said, a large number of children in the district -- under 10 years old -- are also suffering from yaws, an infectious tropical disease caused by the spirochete bacteria.

Bintang is one of 13 new regencies, officiated by Home Minister Hari Sabarno in April.

Due to its treacherous terrain, the new regency can be reached only by air transportation. --Antara