High TB Case In Central Java, People Asked Not To Ignore PPE

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SEMARANG - The Central Java Province Health Office (Dinkes) asked the public not to be careless about the tuberculosis (TBC) case, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Until the second quarter (January-June) new sufferers of this disease touched 23,919 people in Central Java.

This was revealed by the Head of the Provincial Health Office of Central Java, Yulianto Prabowo, when answering reporters' questions, Wednesday 23 July evening. According to him, the characteristics of the disease caused by the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria are almost the same as COVID-19.

"Attacking the airways and lungs. Transmission is almost the same through droplets (droplets). Therefore, we ask residents to maintain their health by wearing masks, washing their hands and eating nutritiously, opening windows, and keeping their distance, ”he said as quoted by the Central Java Provincial Government website.

Yulianto said, of the tens of thousands of TB cases in Central Java, Tegal Regency is an area with quite high cases, namely 1,832 cases.

Meanwhile, the percentage of age groups exposed to tuberculosis is as follows, infants aged 0-4 years are seven percent, then ages 5-14 years (5.3 percent), ages 15-24 years (15.4 percent). Then, age 23-34 years (14.7 percent), age 35-44 years (15 percent), age 45-55 years (16 percent), and age 55-60 years (15.9 percent). Finally, 11.2 percent of the total sufferers in Central Java are elderly over 60 years old.

"From this data, many of the productive age (15-60 years) are affected. We must protect it, because if it is hit it will no longer be productive. Because TB treatment can take up to nine months (in a row, if it is interrupted, repeat from the beginning), "said Yulianto.

The Central Java Provincial Government has taken tactical steps by providing medication to fight this disease. In addition, the Central Java Health Office also takes precautions against those who are in close contact with people with TB.

Jokowi's order

President Joko Widodo wants the handling of tuberculosis (TBC) and COVID-19 to be carried out simultaneously. Because, TB sufferers in Indonesia reach 800 thousand people.

"We have to know that there are 845 (thousand) people with tuberculosis and only 562 thousand people who are notified, so that 33 percent of those who have not been reported are still cautious," he said in a limited meeting regarding the acceleration of TB elimination at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, 20 July.

He reminded that the government continues to try to suppress TB cases and targets Indonesia to be declared free of the disease by 2030.

"To achieve this I ask to pay attention to a number of things and I think what we are doing now for COVID-19. I don't know if this can be superimposed on the COVID-19 group so that the vehicle is the same, if we can solve two things that are important to the health of our people. , I'm sure I can accelerate more, "he said.

Jokowi added that according to government data in 2017 there were 165 thousand people who died from tuberculosis in Indonesia and in 2018 the number of Indonesians who died from the disease was still 98 thousand.

"We need to know that 75 percent of TB patients are in the productive group, meaning that at the productive age of 15 to 55 years, this is what we must also be aware of," he said.

Jokowi said that TB diagnostic and treatment services must be well organized. Also, the stock of medicines must be made available. "If necessary, a Perpres (presidential regulation) or a candy (ministerial regulation) is needed immediately," he said.

"Our principle from the start is to immediately find, treat, that's what we do, like what we did with COVID-19. I think we copy it for TB," added Jokowi.

He argued, the importance of cross-sectoral preventive and promotive efforts in the treatment of tuberculosis. Jokowi instructed the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, and Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to work together to suppress the transmission of TB.

"Including in terms of infrastructure, everything must be done, especially for living quarters, humid houses without sunlight, lack of ventilation, especially in densely populated areas, this environmental density really greatly affects inter-individual transmission," he said.