TB affected area to be revamped

TB affected area to be revamped

TANGERANG (JP): Officials plan to revamp two slum residential
areas in Benda district near the Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport following the detection of six tuberculosis cases in one
of the subdistricts.

Head of Tangerang's health agency Nuriman said over the
weekend that Bulakambing and Sukatani were densely populated, and
a lack of clean water contributed to the unhealthy conditions.

"While we treat the six TB-infected people, we will also fix
up the area," Nuriman said, adding that the cost of the project
would be shared by related state agencies in Tangerang.

The tuberculosis-infected residents were recently discovered
by health agency officials inspecting the sanitary condition in
Bulakambing, home to 200 families.

"The six are now undergoing the six-month-long medication at
their respective houses," Nuriman said.

Active TB can be passed on to others by coughing, or even
talking.

The official number of tuberculosis-infected people in the
capital was estimated at 40,000 people early this year.

Nationally, it is estimated that there are 600,000 TB
sufferers.

Due to the country's prolonged economic downturn, many
predicted the rate of infection would double this year, a problem
compounded by a hike in medication costs.

In Sukatani and Bulakambing subdistricts, other health
problems, including diarrhea and skin-related diseases, were also
detected by health workers.

Nuriman said it was suspected that water in the areas
contained a high metal content which could endanger public
health. He said such water should only be used for bathing and
washing clothes.

Some residents were found to live in inadequate housing, with
poor ventilation. A lack of space led some locals to share their
homes with their goats, Nuriman said.

Tangerang mayoralty spokesman Said Endrawiyanto said
Bulakambing and Sukatani residents mostly comprised laborers and
farmers.

He said reconstruction of the two subdistricts was part of the
country's planned poverty eradication project.

At least 30 houses, 80 toilets, 16 clean water facilities and
16 gardens in which medicinal herbs would be planted were planned
for the area. Said provided no time schedule for the public
works.

It is expected that rebuilding of the area will help boost the
local's economic productivity. (emf/41)