Lowokwaru (malangkota.go.id) – Head of the Health Service (Dinkes) of Malang City, dr. H. Husnul Muarif, MM invited all residents to help eliminate TB (Tuberculosis) in Malang City.
The invitation was conveyed in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Joint Statement Press Conference on Collaborative Efforts to Combat Tuberculosis in Malang City, initiated by the Sub-Sub Recipent (SSR) of the Bhanu Yasa Sejahtera Foundation (Yabhysa) of the Malang City TB Care Community.
The activity which was held at the Savana Hotel, Malang City, Wednesday (18/1/2023) was attended by the Chairman of the Malang City DPRD, representatives of the Malang City Health Office, the Malang City Communication and Information Service, KOPI TB Malang City, RSI UNISMA, Lavalette Hospital, and representatives of the media in Malang City.
Dr. Husnul explained that the Malang City Health Office has helped from the medical side, while the community can help from the psychological side in the form of moral support so that patients are enthusiastic about taking medication.
In the treatment of TB, the Malang City Health Office has waived the cost of TB drugs. "So that people with TB can get treatment at the health facility closest to their home," he added.
Dr. Husnul said that the TB situation in Malang City in 2022 is quite a job. It was recorded that there were 19.157 people detected as suspected TB cases.
"Until now, there are 1.970 Drug-Sensitive TB patients in Malang City. As many as 1.256 people live in Malang City. Meanwhile, there are approximately 100 Drug-Resistant TB patients treated at RSSA Malang City, 23 of whom live in Malang City. So it is very important to do early detection," he said.
The problem of Tuberculosis patients, said Dr. Husnul, is not a problem with the medicine, but there are other factors such as side effects of the medicine, lack of money to get medicine at the service, no money to fulfill nutrition, so the role of the community is very much needed in supporting TB patients who are undergoing treatment.
"That is why collaboration and strengthening of coordination between various parties in handling Tuberculosis in Malang City is very necessary," explained Dr. Husnul.
Responding to this, the SSR Program Staff of Yabhysa Peduli TB Malang City, Yayuk Widianah, SE, explained that the role of Yabhysa Peduli TB Malang City in helping to eliminate TB in Malang City is to make efforts to find TB cases actively (Active Case Finding) using the contact investigation and counseling methods.
"The stigma that occurs in society towards TB patients is still large, so the participation of all parties is needed to support TB patients in completing their treatment," he added.
Yabhysa Peduli TB Kota Malang also helps track patients who are absent from treatment, both at the beginning of the diagnosis and absent during the treatment process.
"Yabhysa Peduli TB Malang City has 45 active cadres spread across five sub-districts. We are opening opportunities for people who want to join as cadres by contacting Yayuk Widianah as Program Staff at 081-333-331-485 or coming directly to the Yabhysa office at Jalan Sunan Ampel I Nomer 3 Dinoyo, Malang City," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Malang City DPRD, I Made Rian Diana Kartika, appreciated and fully supported the activities of the Malang City Health Office and the health community in Malang City.
According to him, health is a primary need of the community. "So it must be prioritized so that the community grows into a healthy society and can build a progressive civilization of Malang City," he concluded. (ntin/yon)
