World TB Day: South Jakarta City Government Encourages Residents Not to Fear Self-Examination

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The South Jakarta Administrative City Government is encouraging the public not to fear getting tested for tuberculosis (TB) as part of World Tuberculosis Day 2026 commemorations.

“The message is simple: education. TB is not something shameful; TB can be cured,” said Deputy Mayor of South Jakarta Ali Murthadho during the World Tuberculosis Day event at Poins Square in Jakarta on Thursday.

Ali stressed the importance of educating the public to eliminate the stigma surrounding TB that persists to this day.

He stated that addressing TB cannot be solely the responsibility of the Health Sub-District Office but requires collective efforts from various parties, including government, the community, and patients’ families.

According to him, many people still view TB as a frightening disease that must be hidden, which hinders treatment efforts.

“We must communicate this properly and accurately to the public that TB can be cured,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the South Jakarta Health Sub-District Office, Debi Intan Suri, added that various efforts have been made to tackle TB, including increasing case detection through active screening, disseminating information, strengthening health services, and developing community-based innovations via TB alert villages.

“We still face several challenges, such as public stigma, delayed case detection, and suboptimal treatment adherence. Therefore, the role of all parties, especially health cadres, is greatly needed,” she stated.

Debi explained that South Jakarta currently ranks third in the number of TB cases in DKI Jakarta.

For this reason, she assured that health centre facilities in South Jakarta are adequate to handle TB patients.

If examination results indicate a TB diagnosis, patients can immediately undergo complete treatment for six months.

“Through this commemoration, we invite all parties to strengthen commitment and cross-sector collaboration. With togetherness, the TB elimination target can optimistically be achieved,” she said.

The South Jakarta City Government targets TB elimination by 2030 through strengthened education, early detection, and cross-sector collaboration.

This year’s commemoration adopts the global theme “Yes! We Can End TB” and was attended by 289 participants from various sectors. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has set the national theme as “SATU TB: Sinergi Aksi Tuntaskan TB”.