Gorontalo Province Launches TB Alert Subdistrict

Gorontalo Province now officially has a Tuberculosis (TB) Alert Subdistrict, following its direct inauguration by Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Akhmad Wiyagus. Head of the Gorontalo Provincial Health, Population Control and Family Planning Office, Anang S Otoluwa, stated on Thursday that the TB Alert Subdistrict is located in Tilango District, Gorontalo Regency. “We are grateful that this region officially has a TB Alert Subdistrict. This is an effort to eliminate this infectious disease in Gorontalo Province,” Anang said. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus noted that TB elimination is one of the priority programmes of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, included in the Quick Best Results Programme. Therefore, the central government must ensure the programme is implemented effectively down to the field level. The Ministry of Health is intensively monitoring field activities, including contributing supporting equipment, funding, examinations, and observing field cadres. “We are very impressed with Gorontalo, because it is not only the health office but also the Population and Civil Registration Office that helps manage cases where residents do not have a Population Identification Number, so if it is missing, it can be activated immediately, along with other cross-sector involvement,” he said. TB eradication is not solely about treatment; the priority is preventing people from becoming infected. According to the Deputy Minister, TB elimination requires a broader approach that does not focus only on treating patients. Preventing transmission, early detection, improving living conditions, and cross-sector involvement are crucial parts of breaking the chain of TB transmission. The Deputy Ministers also reviewed the implementation of the integrated Posyandu 6 SPM and CKG services with TB screening. The review covered health services by internal medicine specialists, clinical nutrition specialists, and paediatricians, as well as health services for infants, toddlers, children, and pregnant women. Gorontalo is committed to accelerating TB elimination as a form of strengthening collaboration between central and regional governments to achieve the TB elimination target.