South Jakarta Health Office Urges Public to Eliminate Stigma Against TB Patients

The South Jakarta Health Office (Sudinkes) is inviting the public to eliminate the stigma against tuberculosis (TB) patients to support efforts in detecting and treating the disease.

“Our biggest challenge is stigma, both from the community and from the patients themselves, such as the fear that once someone contracts TB, they will be shunned,” said the Head of the South Jakarta Health Office, Debi Intan Suri, when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.

She stated that stigma remains one of the greatest hurdles in managing TB, originating from both societal perceptions and the patients’ own anxieties.

According to Debi, efforts to eliminate the stigma against TB patients must be continuously pursued through various socialisation and education activities within the community.

These efforts, she added, also require the involvement of healthcare workers, neighbourhood heads (RT and RW), and community health volunteers, who serve as the frontline in local environments.

Debi noted that this role is vital in providing the public with an understanding of how TB is transmitted and treated, ensuring that patients do not feel fearful or marginalised after learning of their health condition.

“Patients who test positive for TB and have taken their medication regularly for two weeks are actually no longer infectious,” Debi explained.

However, patients must still complete their treatment as prescribed, as the thorough eradication of TB bacteria within the body requires a treatment period of approximately six months.

In addition to treatment, the public is also urged to implement preventive measures to minimise the risk of transmission, such as wearing masks and practicing proper cough etiquette.

South Jakarta Health Office continues to undertake various TB detection and prevention efforts, including the Free TB Health Check (CKG) programme targeting residents across various areas.

Under this programme, residents undergo several examinations, including sputum tests using Molecular Rapid Tests (TCM) and lung examinations via mobile X-ray services.

With an increasing number of people undergoing these screenings, it is hoped that TB cases can be detected earlier, allowing for immediate intervention and treatment.

The South Jakarta City Government aims for approximately 650,000 residents to undergo the integrated TB screening and health check programme throughout 2026.