TB Cases In Bengkulu Increase, During 2023 Capai 2,309 People

Photo illustration. (Doc. Pexels)

BENGKULU CITY - The Bengkulu Provincial Health Office revealed that from January to August 2023, 2,309 cases of Tuberculosis (TBC) have been detected throughout the Bengkulu area. Bengkulu City is the largest area with 878 cases, while Rejang Lebong Regency has recorded 280 cases.

The head of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Herwan Antoni, claimed that the increase in the number of TB cases occurred due to rapid disease transmission. The health team is trying to screen residents in areas that have case findings, and the community is asked to maintain environmental cleanliness.

Herwan also appealed to the public to raise their own health awareness and check themselves if they have TB symptoms. He stressed that medicines for this disease can be obtained for free.

The Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Bengkulu City Health Office, Sri Martiana, explained that the high number of TB cases in Bengkulu City was caused by several factors, including symptoms of cough that were ignored, the use of cigarettes, and the lack of lighting at home. However, the death rate due to tuberculosis in Bengkulu is still low.

To overcome the spread of TB, the Bengkulu City health team continues to carry out early detection, education, and counseling in collaboration with foundations and health centers in Bengkulu.

TB symptoms that need to be watched out for include prolonged coughs, chill fever, and loss of appetite. Sri emphasized the importance of bringing residents who have these symptoms to the nearest health facility to get the right treatment.

"If there are residents and family members who have symptoms of TB, they should immediately be taken to the nearest health facility so that the illness can be cured quickly," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, September 2.