Hashim: Construction of 3 million houses to reduce stunting and tuberculosis

Jakarta — The chairman of the Housing Task Force and Presidential Special Envoy of the Republic of Indonesia, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, has stated that the construction of 3 million houses is not merely about providing adequate housing, but represents a strategic government step to reduce stunting and tuberculosis, which are triggered by unhealthy residential environments.

“Mothers who do not yet have homes, children without adequate shelter. We already know that unhealthy environments cause stunting. Why? Because children’s health is compromised,” he said during the launch of housing development in support of the 3 million houses programme on land owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia near Manggarai Station in Jakarta on Monday.

According to Djojohadikusumo, many families in Indonesia still lack adequate housing, leaving children growing up in unhealthy environments with the potential to trigger various health problems.

He explained that dense and unhealthy residential environments can cause health disorders in children, including increased risk of stunting.

“We know that Indonesia ranks second worst globally in health matters, particularly tuberculosis. In terms of TB prevalence, tuberculosis is a lung disease. What causes it? It is caused by housing in close proximity in slum areas,” he stated.

Djojohadikusumo noted that Indonesia currently ranks amongst the countries with the highest tuberculosis prevalence worldwide, second only to India. The disease is predominantly found in densely populated and slum residential areas that have poor sanitation and inadequate ventilation.

According to Djojohadikusumo, these conditions mean many children and members of society are vulnerable to a disease that could actually be prevented through improvements to the quality of residential environments.