Central Java Governor Intensifies 'Speling' Programme for Early Leprosy Detection

The Central Java Provincial Government will utilise the Mobile Specialist Doctor (Speling) programme and Free Health Check-ups (CKG) to strengthen leprosy screening. This measure is being taken to accelerate early detection while supporting leprosy elimination efforts in the region. The commitment was conveyed by Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi while attending the 2026 National Leprosy Conference at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta on Friday (10/7). Luthfi stressed that leprosy is not a curse, but a disease for which a cure already exists. He stated that handling the disease requires various programmes in cooperation with regency and city governments across Central Java. “Regents and mayors must be given targets; regency and city governments must make breakthroughs for the early detection of leprosy,” he said in a written statement on Friday (10/7). He added that health agencies at both the provincial and regency/city levels are obliged to provide treatment to sufferers. According to him, eradicating leprosy cannot be done individually but requires cooperation from all parties. Data shows that leprosy cases in Central Java remain relatively high. In 2025, 1,541 cases were recorded, while up to the second quarter of 2026, there have been approximately 837 cases. According to Luthfi, the high number of case findings actually indicates that early detection in the field is progressing quite well. This allows treatment for survivors to be carried out periodically and sustainably. On this basis, the existing Speling programme will be expanded to include a leprosy screening component. Quantitative data from each regency and city will be collected at the provincial level for follow-up intervention. Survivors are ensured to receive treatment without interruption. The treatment period varies, ranging from 6 to 12 months, and can even reach 24 months. Interrupted treatment risks forcing survivors to restart the process from the beginning. Therefore, continuous monitoring is a crucial part of the Speling strategy in Central Java. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that leprosy is a disease caused by bacteria and that medication is now available. He noted that the transmission of leprosy is not as rapid as diseases caused by viruses. He stressed that once a case is detected, the sufferer must receive immediate and continuous treatment. According to him, the main issue in handling leprosy is not the availability of medicine, but rather the delay in detection. “The problem with leprosy is late detection, so to eliminate it, detection must be improved. The only strategy is to find as many cases as possible and then treat them,” Budi asserted.