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)