Australia helps fight to erase tuberculosis

Australia helps fight to erase tuberculosis

JAKARTA (JP): East Timor and East Nusa Tenggara are to
receive A$4.6 million (US$2.7 million) in health aid from
Australia to help fight tuberculosis.

The provinces have among the highest rates of tuberculosis in
the country, with 700 out of every 100,000 people affected,
according to Loekman Hakim Siregar, the head of the Ministry of
Health's tuberculosis control division.

Australian Charg d'Affairs Leslie Rowe and the Director
General of Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of
Health, Achmad Sujudi, signed a memorandum of understanding for
the project on Friday.

Tuberculosis is the second most deadly disease in Indonesia
after heart disease. Indonesia ranks third after India and China
due to its high population among countries with high disease
rates. There are an average of 175,000 deaths from the disease
and 445,000 new cases each year in the country.

"However, only 30 percent to 40 percent of tuberculosis
sufferers seek help in health centers," Achmad said.

Loekman said that 220 people out of every 100,000 members of
the population were infected by tuberculosis -- with the
exception of some provinces including East Timor and East Nusa
Tenggara. He added a lack of nutrition and health service access
were among the reasons for the high rates in the two eastern
provinces.

Achmad acknowledged the number of tuberculosis cases had
increased during the crisis but declined to mention any figures.

"A lack of nutrition and an unhealthy environment, such as in
Jakarta's slum areas, can decrease body stamina to fight the
disease," he explained.

The ministry and the World Health Organization have been
working together to control the spread of tuberculosis since
1994. A project called Directly Observed Treatment, which
involves family members and non-governmental organizational
support, has been implemented in public health centers since
then. More than 90 percent of sufferers in parts of Java and
Sumatra have been cured through the scheme.

The goal of the signed project in East Timor and East Nusa
Tenggara is to achieve an 85 percent cure rate by 2000.

"This program will assist in the containment and eradication
of tuberculosis in the eastern islands where the problems are
particularly acute," Rowe said of the planned provision of
equipment, training and medical supplies.

Since the crisis began last year, Australia has given A$120
million in aid, including A$16 million to support the Safe
Motherhood program and emergency medical supplies. (01)