USAID to help RI in fighting TB

USAID to help RI in fighting TB

JAKARTA: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
will provide US$2.5 million this year and over $7.8 million in
the next five years to help the fight against tuberculosis (TB)
in Indonesia, the agency said on Thursday.

The agency said it would also support a series of TB awareness
activities in Jakarta, Semarang, and Yogyakarta.

"TB is a serious problem in Indonesia, causing the death of
140,000 people each year," the agency said.

Indonesia's TB rate is the third highest in the world, with
550,000 new cases are found each year in Indonesia. The disease
is the third largest cause of death after heart and respiratory
diseases in all age groups.

USAID provides training and technical assistance, including
laboratory services, to health professionals fighting the disease
in nine provinces. -- JP