Tuberculosis hits 1,000 people

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