Gorontalo Provincial Government Ready to Accelerate Leprosy Elimination
Gorontalo (ANTARA) - Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail has declared the province’s readiness for the accelerated leprosy elimination programme, after signing a national commitment as a step forward for the region in tackling the spread of the infectious disease.
“I have signed the commitment to accelerate leprosy elimination at the National Leprosy Conference themed ‘Accelerating Leprosy Elimination: Indonesia’s Commitment, Global Collaboration’. The signing was carried out together with 37 governors from across Indonesia,” Governor Gusnar Ismail said in a statement received in Gorontalo on Friday.
He said the signing reflects the regional government’s commitment to supporting the acceleration of leprosy elimination through stronger policies, funding and cross-sector collaboration.
Meanwhile, Anang said his presence was part of efforts to ensure that the agreed commitments could be swiftly followed up at the regional level.
According to him, the commitment covers a number of key points, including directly leading all elements of society in the acceleration of leprosy elimination, and ensuring the issuance of a Governor’s Regulation, the Regional Action Plan (RAD) for Leprosy along with strategies and performance indicators.
In addition, it includes establishing leprosy elimination as a priority in regional planning and budgeting documents, reducing stigma against people affected by leprosy, and guaranteeing access to health services for all patients.
Furthermore, it involves ensuring the availability of adequate and sustainable human resources, encouraging district and municipal governments through continuous supervision, and achieving a target of 70 percent leprosy case detection.
The Governor, Anang said, immediately instructed coordination with the Head of the Regional Planning, Research and Development Agency (Bapppeda) of Gorontalo Province so that budgetary support for the leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) elimination programmes is included in regional planning and budgeting documents.
The instruction demonstrates the Gorontalo Provincial Government’s concrete commitment to ensuring that the elimination of infectious diseases, which are a mandatory priority, receives sustained policy and financing support.
“The signing of this commitment is tangible proof that Gorontalo is ready to take an active role in accelerating leprosy elimination through working together with all stakeholders,” Anang said.
The Governor’s direct instruction strengthens all regional apparatus to move quickly in integrating the leprosy and TB elimination programmes into regional development policy.
Through this joint commitment, the Gorontalo Provincial Government is optimistic that the leprosy elimination target can be achieved gradually and sustainably.