Health ministry renovates 10,000 homes to curb tuberculosis spread

Sumedang, West Java (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry is renovating 10,000 homes for low-income residents in areas with high tuberculosis (TB) rates to curb disease transmission.

Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said on Thursday that the initiative is part of a government strategy addressing both medical treatment and residents’ living conditions.

“Besides that, Maruarar Sirait (Housing and Settlement Areas Minister) gave me aid in the form of a program to renovate 10,000 homes for low-income people living in neighborhoods with high TB cases,” Octavianus said.

He noted that only about 1,000 of the targeted 10,000 homes have been completed, leaving roughly 9,000 renovations to be proposed and coordinated between central and regional governments.

Octavianus urged regional administrations to identify low-income residents requiring housing repairs, particularly in areas with high TB incidence.

Regional governments can submit eligible homes for the renovation program through coordination between district and provincial health offices, he said.

“Homes of residents who meet the criteria can be renovated because the budget has been prepared,” Octavianus added.

The initiative aims to improve housing standards and prevent further TB transmission.

He emphasized that effective implementation requires accurate data collection and cross-sector coordination to ensure assistance reaches intended recipients.

Handling TB requires active involvement from regional governments and community groups, Octavianus stressed.

Medical testing and treatment must advance alongside environmental improvements to achieve the national TB control target by 2035.

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Translator: Ilham, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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