Deputy Interior Minister: Villages Play Strategic Role in Eliminating TB in Indonesia

The government has spotlighted the importance of the role of regions, particularly villages, in accelerating the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in Indonesia, as they are strategic in actively finding cases, increasing public education, and accompanying patients until they complete treatment. “Local governments are the main drivers in coordinating TB control efforts down to the village and sub-district levels,” said Deputy Interior Minister (Wamendagri) Akhmad Wiyagus when confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday. However, he added, currently out of a total of 84,276 villages in Indonesia, only around 5,711 villages have formed TB Alert Villages or Sub-districts, spread across 22 provinces and 108 regencies/cities. On the same occasion, Deputy Health Minister (Wamenkes) Benjamin Paulus Octavianus added that the success of TB elimination requires cross-sectoral synergy, including involvement from the community, healthcare workers, the business world, and the media. The government ensures that services for suspected TB patients are part of the Minimum Service Standards (SPM) that must be fulfilled by all local governments. With the strengthening of the village role and cross-sectoral collaboration, he said, it is hoped that TB elimination in Indonesia can be achieved more quickly and comprehensively.