Malang City Government Intensifies Tuberculosis Screening for Close Contacts Using Mobile X-Ray

The Malang City Government, via its Health Office (Dinkes), is ramping up the early detection of Tuberculosis (TB) by conducting mass screenings on members of the public who have been in close contact with positive patients. This proactive measure is being taken to break the chain of transmission and pursue the target of eliminating TB by 2030. The screening programme utilises mobile X-Ray technology, which tours 57 urban wards in stages. Medical officers conduct free chest X-rays, targeting 200 residents per day. The primary focus of the screening is residents living in the same house as TB patients, people with diabetes mellitus, and children suffering from malnutrition. Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division at the Malang City Health Office, Meifta Eti Winindar, stated that this screening aims to bring healthcare services closer to the community. “We are carrying out early detection to speed up the tracing process. If found earlier, medical treatment can be provided immediately,” she said on the sidelines of screening activities in Sukun Ward on Wednesday. As of the end of May 2026, the Malang City Health Office recorded that 925 residents had been confirmed positive for Tuberculosis, with 24 reported fatalities. In its implementation, the Health Office is collaborating with the Stop TB Partnership Indonesia (STPI) by deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This technology allows the X-ray results to be read automatically and accurately in a short time, enabling officers to immediately determine referral steps to the community health centre on the same day. The Malang City Government has urged the public not to be afraid to participate in the screening. Common symptoms such as a productive cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, and drastic weight loss must be checked immediately to prevent transmission to other family members.