Yogyakarta intensifies active case finding to accelerate TB elimination

The Yogyakarta city government is intensifying Active Case Finding (ACF) to detect undiagnosed tuberculosis cases through proactive efforts to identify at-risk and symptomatic individuals and carry out early detection as part of accelerating the goal of zero TB.

Acting Head of the Yogyakarta Health Office Lana Unwanah said on Friday that, in line with the central government programme, TB ACF activities are integrated with free health checks (CKG) to accelerate the achievement of TB elimination by 2030.

“TB ACF activities integrated with free health checks are funded by the central government budget. The integration of TB ACF and free health checks is an effort to accelerate elimination and zero TB,” she said.

According to her, the ACF activities integrated with CKG in the second semester of 2026 will be carried out from 31 July to 19 November 2026 at 52 locations spread across 45 sub-districts, including targeting office workplaces and prisons and detention centres in Yogyakarta City.

The initial ACF activity, supported by the NGO Zero TB Yogyakarta, aims to increase TB case detection so that patients receive early treatment and to trace close contacts to prevent transmission.

Head of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control and Immunisation Section of the Yogyakarta Health Office Endang Sri Rahayu said the implementation of ACF integrated with CKG includes TB symptom screening and screening using portable X-ray equipment.

In addition, TB tracing is carried out by mobilising household contacts and close contacts of tuberculosis cases to take part in free health check activities.

“TB ACF integrated with CKG means that the screenings carried out include TB components. So for the past three to four years we have been thoroughly combing through people who have not visited health facilities and still feel healthy, using the ACF method,” she said.

The Yogyakarta Health Office recorded around 680 TB cases up to July 2026, with around 637 TB cases being treated. Of these cases, around 50-60 per cent of tuberculosis cases are domiciled outside the city but access health service facilities in Yogyakarta City.

“The average TB cure rate is 80-85 per cent. TB treatment lasts an average of six months. We urge the public to be disciplined in taking medication according to the doctor’s prescription. If they stop, for example after feeling better after two months, there is a risk of developing drug resistance,” she said.