City administration fails to fight spread of leprosy
City administration fails to fight spread of leprosy
JAKARTA (JP): While claiming to have continuously provided
free medication for lepers, the city administration remains
unable to curb the number of people infected with leprosy.
Deputy Governor for Public Welfare Djailani disclosed on
Tuesday the increasing number of people suffering from the
disease.
"There were 896 recorded cases of leprosy during the January
to March 2000 period. Meanwhile, there were a total of 657
recorded patients for the whole of last year," he said.
Djailani, however, blames the increasing figures on some
lepers from outside Jakarta working on the city's streets as
beggars.
"We've learned that some people have been taking advantage of
the lepers' sufferings," he said, without elaborating.
In an attempt to curb the number of lepers in the capital, he
said, the administration would coordinate with other regional
administrations to prevent the lepers from leaving their
hometowns with treatment being provided in their respective
cities of origin.
Djailani, however, failed to mention the number of beggars
suffered from leprosy in the city. He suggested that journalists
obtain the data from the City Social Affairs Agency.
However, an official at this agency was reluctant to provide
the data without receiving direct permission from Djailani.
Djailani said that the 896 lepers have been receiving free
medical treatment to cure the disease at local hospitals and
community health centers (Puskesmas).
"The City Social Affairs Agency is responsible for taking care
of lepers who earn their living as beggars on the city's
streets," he said.
He guaranteed that the budget was not a problem, pointing to
the fact that Jakarta is the country's richest province.
"If the 896 lepers remain uncured, we will evaluate the free
medication program," he said.
Currently, the administration provides free medical treatment
for lepers at ten hospitals, including Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital in Central Jakarta, Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta
and the Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta, and in 60
community health centers throughout the capital.
City Health Agency data shows that only some 3,229 lepers have
been cured in the past 15 years.
Djailani said that efforts to help curb their numbers would
include vocational training for the lepers.
"Aside from localizing the lepers for treatment, we will
provide them with skills to enable them to survive as active
members of the society," he said.
"That way, they will not burden their families or society."
M. Sihombing of the City Social Affairs Agency said his office
would provide a mobile rehabilitation service to provide free
medical treatment for those who cannot reach local health
centers.
"Such a mobile service is needed to speed up the handling of
the problem," Sihombing said. (lup)