Private sector help sought to fight TB

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 04/23/2008 1:07 AM | National

The private sector should do more to help curb the spread of tuberculosis as its prevalence in Indonesia is damaging the overall economy, a discussion here concluded Tuesday.

"It's time for everyone to share responsibility for the spread of TB because the damage being done is much too high to be left to a few people to handle," Hasbullah Thabrany, a professor from the University of Indonesia's community health department, told a discussion at Balai Kartini, South Jakarta.

He said state losses incurred due to TB amount to Rp 8.5 trillion (US$928 million) annually.

Hasbullah said only about 1 percent of private companies in the country are actively involved in fighting the deadly disease.

According to the Health Ministry, every year Indonesia sees 600,000 TB cases, with 100,000 fatalities.

"Indonesia has the third highest number of TB patients in the world after China and India," said I Nyoman Kandun, Health Ministry director general for disease control and environmental health.

"About 75 percent of cases occur among people of productive age, between 15 to 55 years old," he added.

Kandun said employees with TB are less productive with negative effects on output for the economy and private companies.

He admitted some private companies still fired employees who contracted the disease.

"It is obvious that it is in the companies' interest to help cure these employees, rather than firing them and risking that more potential employees could then be infected," he said.

Tom Malik, an activist with the Coalition for Healthy Indonesia (KUIS), said the private sector is an untapped resource in the fight against TB.

"Several companies have provided assistance, such as organizing seminars on the importance of curative measures and establishing private clinics for employee check-ups, but it would be much better if more companies participated," he said.

"The private sector would already help a lot by providing seminars and information for employees about the importance of curative measures."

Tom said companies should not worry about the cost of providing help since medicine and promotional items have been made available free at the Health Ministry and the KUIS office at Plaza Basmar, South Jakarta.

"The key here is to raise public awareness on TB because a lot of people have forgotten about it, while taking more notice of newer diseases."

"Private companies could help the cause," Tom said.

The eastern part of Indonesia records the highest incidence of TB with around 201 out of every 100,000 people in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, West and East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua becoming infected with the disease annually.

TB is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by bacteria. A tuberculosis patient can infect 10 to 15 people every year if left untreated. (anw)

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