Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Drives Acceleration of TB Elimination in Java
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Akhmad Wiyasting, emphasised the importance of an integrated strategy to accelerate the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) on the island of Java as part of fulfilling basic public health services.
He stated that these efforts require cross-sector collaboration, particularly in Java, which serves as a key region for national TB management, while asserting that no province will be sidelined in this endeavour.
“Alongside the Deputy Minister of Health, I am not sidelining other provinces, but we will focus on Java,” Wiyagus said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
This was conveyed during the Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting for Active Case Finding (ACF) of Tuberculosis in Central Java Province, held in Karanganyar, Central Java, on Monday (28/9).
He explained that the acceleration of TB elimination must be carried out comprehensively, ranging from case detection and treatment to the prevention of transmission.
The government is also encouraging the monitoring of the fulfilment of Minimum Service Standards (SPM) for health in the regions, as well as the development of the ‘TB Alert Village’ movement by involving village pillars and community cadres.
In an effort to break the chain of transmission, Wiyagus emphasised the importance of tracing close contacts of patients and providing TB Preventive Therapy (TPT).
“Every week, every two weeks, or once a month, I will personally lead or check the progress of TPT administration to close contacts,” he explained.
On the other hand, Wiyagus appreciated the commitment of local governments, including in the preparation of action plan documents to support the acceleration of TB elimination.
He expressed hope that cross-sector synergy would be maintained so that the various prepared steps can run consistently and sustainably.
“We will continue to work because this is a constitutional mandate and a great dream of the President to eliminate our position as second in the world for TB,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, the Regional Secretary of Central Java Province Sumarno, representing the Governor of Central Java, and the Regent of Karanganyar, Rober Christanto.