Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – Ahead of the commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day 2022, the Malang City Government (Pemkot) through the Health Service held a TB Day Discussion "Investment to Eliminate TB, Save the Nation", Wednesday (23/3/2022).
Malang Mayor Drs. H. Sutiaji stated that it is important to educate the public about infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Prevention of diseases that cause high costs such as tuberculosis is part of the steps to improve the quality of human resources.
"In order to prevent and overcome the transmission of TB, his party plans to conduct data collection through the dasa wisma. So later there will be an item about health in Sam Gepunbasa, one of which is related to infectious diseases, including TB. There are people who are aware of TB and some who are not. If people are aware, then the mitigation can be strong, they must take medication regularly. It is hoped that those who are sick will be more active, there must be openness," he said.
Sutiaji also revealed that health is one of the priorities of the Malang City Government and is included in one of its missions, namely to ensure access and quality of education, health, and other basic services for all residents.
"We are committed to strengthening what has been included in the RPJMD. We hope it can be implemented well," he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Health Service, Dr. Husnul Muarif, said that this discussion activity was held to increase collective awareness of eradicating the problem of TB.
"TB elimination is not only the responsibility of the health sector, but every individual, both healthy and sick. The purpose of this seminar is to increase public awareness of TB," he continued.
Dissemination of information about TB to all levels of society involves all health service facilities with the Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (TBC DOTS) strategy, involving people/residents affected by TB, namely those who have undergone treatment and have been declared cured in supporting the TB prevention and control program.
Furthermore, Husnul revealed that during this pandemic, people's activity in coming to health facilities has decreased. So maybe people are staying at home, staying at home even though they have symptoms because they are worried about getting checked.
"So that in 2021, our suspected cases could only reach around 5.000 suspected cases. From the symptoms, it must be confirmed through sputum examination, and around 523 people were found," he said.
Husnul invited the general public not to be afraid to check themselves at health facilities when there are symptoms, such as coughing. Our recovery is almost 82 percent, if the national target is 85 percent. For the age range of patients, the majority are productive age, namely 15-59 years.
"TB is transmitted through the respiratory tract, so there are rules such as cough etiquette that must be followed. This is something that is not yet understood by the public even though this bacteria comes out when we cough," he concluded.
Regarding Sam Gepunbasa, Husnul revealed that later there will be cooperation with TP PKK. "So there are 10 houses, later there will be PKK cadres who input the data. It is almost the same as what we have done in the Healthy Family application data collection, with 12 indicators, one of which is whether or not there are people suffering from infectious diseases, such as TB," he concluded.
In this discussion, approximately 120 invitees were present, consisting of students from Stikes and the Faculty of Medicine, Poskestren, health cadres, TP PKK, health centers, and clinics that have collaborated with the Malang City Health Office.
Present as speakers were the Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division of the East Java Provincial Health Office, drg. MVS Mahanani, M.Kes and the Head of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Section of the Malang City Health Office, dr. Bayu Tjahjawibawa.
This event included the presentation of award certificates to several outstanding health workers at the provincial level in 2021, namely dr. RA Siti Juhariyah, Sp.P (Malang City Hospital), Yoanita Ariestyaningrum, Amd, AN.Kes (Polawijen Health Center), and Anita Resky Diningrum Suhardi (Polawijen Health Center. Also a certificate of appreciation from the President's Special Staff to the Malang City Health Office for their synergy in supporting the implementation of accelerated vaccination for people with disabilities in East Java Province in 2021. (ari/ram)
