TB in Papua is Alarming, Cases Continue to Increase Until 2026

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of the Republic of Indonesia continues to strengthen efforts to eradicate infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB), in various regions, including Papua. This step is part of the directives from President Prabowo Subianto to reduce the number of infectious disease cases in Indonesia. Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, stated that Indonesia currently holds the second position worldwide for the highest number of TB cases. This situation has become a serious concern for the government, especially in areas with high case rates such as Papua. “Meanwhile, TB cases in Papua are very high, where in Jayapura Regency, 1,400 TB cases were found by the end of 2025, and up to April 2026, 400 new cases were found, bringing the total to 1,800 cases,” he said in Sentani on Wednesday. According to Benjamin, preventive and treatment measures must be carried out immediately because TB has a high transmission rate, especially in family environments. “If not treated, it can spread to other family members of the patient,” he stated. He explained that the working visit to Papua is also part of outreach efforts together with the local government to achieve the target of a TB- and malaria-free Indonesia by 2030. Papua itself remains the region with the largest contribution to malaria cases in Indonesia. Ministry of Health data shows that more than 90 percent of national malaria cases originate from this region. “Papua itself remains the region with the largest contribution to malaria cases in Indonesia, with more than 90 percent of the total national cases,” he said. In addition to medical efforts, Kemenkes is also implementing an inter-ministerial programme to build decent housing for TB patients and underprivileged families. This programme is expected to support the healing process through improvements in the living environment. “Kemenkes has received assistance to build 8,000 housing units, and for Papua, a target of 500 decent housing units has been set,” he added.