PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of the Republic of Indonesia appreciates the efforts of West Java Province in finding cases of Tuberculosis (TB) which is the first step in controlling TB.

The Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi, reported that West Java has succeeded in finding up to 100 percent of TB cases in the last two years.

"I appreciate that West Java in the last two years has succeeded in finding 100 percent of TB cases, even up to 117 percent due to overflow from neighboring provinces. The discovery of all TB cases is the first key to controlling TB," said Imran at the Launch and Joint Signing of USAID BEBAS TB at the West Java Province Level and Preparation of an Integrated Work Plan "Towards Elimination and Freedom from TB" at the Novotel Hotel, Bandung City, Wednesday (21/2/2024).

The second step in controlling TB is the successful provision of treatment, while the third step is the successful completion of treatment for six months continuously. Apart from that, Imran also emphasized the need to pay attention to the increasing number of TB cases in children, because it can cause stunting and brain damage.

Based on data from the West Java Provincial Health Service (2023 data plus 1 February 2024), West Java is currently estimated to have 233,334 new TB cases or 22 percent of the total national cases.

The six areas with a high TB burden are Bogor Regency, Sukabumi Regency, Bandung Regency, Bandung City, Bekasi Regency and Bekasi City. With high TB case data, West Java has become one of the provinces that has received attention from USAID.

Pls. Assistant for Government and People's Welfare at the Regional Secretariat (Setda) of West Java Province, Dodo Suhendar, said that West Java has become one of the USAID TB-Free intervention provinces with five districts/cities selected based on the Letter of the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health Number PM 01.01/C/32/2024 namely Bandung City, Bandung Regency, Bekasi City, Bekasi Regency and Bogor Regency.

"Today's workshop and kick off meeting also introduces the USAID TB Free program in West Java, especially in five districts/cities," said Dodo.

This kick off activity is expected to reduce the number of new TB cases, reduce the death rate due to TB and reduce the stigma of discrimination for TB sufferers in West Java.

"We really appreciate USAID's contribution in supporting the TB reduction program in West Java as a concrete step towards a TB-free Indonesia by 2030. This is a form of synergy and collaboration," said Dodo.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of the TB-Free Usaid Party, Prima Setiawan, said that even though Indonesia has made progress in the last decade, new TB cases are still emerging.

It is targeted for Indonesia to reduce the TB death rate by 90 percent and reduce the number of new cases by 80 percent by 2030.

TB Free USAID is currently working in four densely populated provinces with a high TB burden, namely North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java and East Java.