Productive Age Prone To Tuberculosis, Workplaces Need To Be The Front Guard Of Prevention

JAKARTA - Tuberculosis (TB) is still a serious threat to the health of the Indonesian people, especially since this disease has attacked many productive age groups.

The age range of 4554 years, which is generally an active workforce in various sectors, is a group with high prevalence of TB cases. This condition certainly has an impact not only on individual health, but also on productivity and economic stability.

Seeing this situation, the Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI), Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, emphasized the importance of involvement in the work environment in efforts to prevent and control TB. According to him, intervention in the workplace can have a significant impact in reducing case numbers.

"Companies need to be committed to creating a work environment that supports health, especially through education, counseling, TB screening, and medical assistance for affected employees," said Tjandra in commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day, as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that collaboration can be done through two main approaches: first, direct cooperation between companies and the nearest health care facility; second, multi-party partnerships between companies, governments, and community organizations such as medical professional organizations and social groups such as Scouts.

Tjandra also dismissed the notion that the presence of TB patients in the workplace would bring losses to the company. On the contrary, he emphasized that TB is a disease that can be completely cured, and the treatment is available for free at government health facilities.

If the infected worker manages to recover, of course, he will return to work optimally. That means, the company's productivity will also increase," he explained.

He emphasized that human resources (HR) are the company's main assets. Therefore, protection of employee health including early detection and handling of TB is a form of investment that cannot be ignored.

As a strategic step, Tjandra suggested that the Puskesmas have complete data on companies located in their working areas. Then the coordination and intervention of public health can be more targeted.

He also suggested that the DKI Jakarta Health Office cooperate with the Puskesmas in developing work health programs targeting infectious diseases such as TB.