By Fitri Maryono

By Fitri Maryono

The Jakarta Post Purwokerto, Central Java

Lacking funds makes the government find it hard to curb the spread of the contagious tuberculosis (TB) which claimed 140,000 people nationwide per annum, according to an official.

Umar Fahmi Achmadi, Directorate General of Contagious Disease Eradication and Environmental Sanitation said for the medicine alone, the government must set aside Rp 35 billion (US$3,7 million) per year.

He, however, could not reveal how much money was really needed to fund TB eradication programs. "The government also receives assistance from various countries such as U.S, Australia, and the Netherlands."

The medicine was always distributed for free to TB patients through around 7,000 public health centers in the country, he said. "Most of TB patients come from families of low income bracket."

"Funding is the main contraint for the government to combat the diseases. But we have made global commitment and cooperated with other countries which have high TB cases to stop the spread of this disease," Umar Fahmi told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of working meeting with Commission VII of the House of Representaties in Jakarta.

Umar Fahmi revealed, the number of TB new patients had yet to decrease significantly with around 500,000 new cases found this year. "While the total number of Indonesians transmitted with this diseases is estimated around 420,000."

However, he said the government would continue battling the disease by intensifying integrated TB progam DOTS (Direct Observed Therapy) shortcourse introduced in 1999.

The programme consist of five components: political commitment, diagnosis by smear microscopy, well-organized distribution of TB Drugs, directly observed treatment and good reporting and recording systems.

"By intensifying this program, we hope we'll be able to eliminate TB completely by 2010," Umar Fahmi said.

Last year in Purwokerto, Central Java

Direktur Pemberantasan Penyakit Menular Langsung(P2ML) Departemen , Haikin Rahmat

Haikin Rahmat dalam acara pembahasan nasional penyakit menular para pejabat Kantor Wilayah Departemen Kesehatan Provinsi se- Indonesia yang berlangsung di Baturaden itu mengatakan saat ini di Indonesia jumalh penderita TBC secara keseluruhan adalah 583.000 orang.

Yang menjadi masalah menurut Haikin Ramhat bahwa sebagian besar masyarakat Indonesia sulit diajak untuk merealisasikan upaya penanggulangan penyakit menular ini yang diantaranya dengan menghjindari rokok. TBC menurutnya kebanyakan menyerang masyarakat bawah terutama karena kurang memperhatikan kesehatan lingkungan, perumahan kumuh, kemiskinan serta adanya kesenjangan dalam memperoleh akses di rumahsakit-rumah sakit tertentu untuk mendapatkan pelayanan kesehatan.

Departemen Kesehatan menurut Haikin telah berupaya menekan seminimal mungkin jumlah korban dan penderita dengan cara memberikan penyluhan hidup sehat dan pengobatan geratis. Namun kendalanya adalah tidak setiap Puskesmas di daerah memberikan informasi yang cukup mengenai fasilitas tersebut. Selain itu masih banyak pula budaya malas berobat di kalangan masyarakat bawah, karena takut biaya yang tinggi. Pihak Puskesmas dan Rumah sakit menurutnya sering pula kurang cepat menangkap keluhan masyarakat dan terkesan lambat dalam menangani kaum miskin.

Indonesia is still ranked third in the world after China and India in the number of TB deaths.