Tuberculosis hits 1,000 people

TANGERANG: More than 1,000 people in the Tangerang municipality, west of Jakarta, have been affected by tuberculosis, 450 of them badly.

Head of the municipality health agency, Dr. Nuriman Machyudin, said over the weekend that all doctors and nurses in public health centers and private clinics had been called on to stay alert. The centers and clinics have been providing free medical treatment to the poorer tuberculosis victims.

The money is covered by social security funds. So far the agency has covered 23 patients.

Nuriman said most residents in slum areas did not get adequate information on the disease including about the symptoms, how it spreads and how it affects people.

Areas prone to the tuberculosis outbreak out are slum areas surrounding the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and residential areas surrounding industrial centers including those in Jatiuwung, Pasar Baru and Karawaci. -- Antara