200 TB patients in dire need of treatment

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