South Kalimantan records 7,556 TB cases, strives to reduce

Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Pronvincial Government is now striving to reduce the high number of tuberculosis (TB) sufferers which was recorded at 7,556 in 2022.

Governor of South Kalimantan Sahbirin Noor has instructed a maximum TB handling and treatment this year, Director of Ulin Regional General Hospital Izaak Zoelkarnain Akbar informed here on Wednesday

The provincial government, he said, is coordinating with a number of health facilities, including Ulin Hospital, to tackle the disease.

Ulin itself, Izaak said, has conducted treatment of 1,270 cases of TB.

“We have treated around 320 cases of TB in children and 950 cases in adults throughout 2022," he said.

In basic treatment of TB, Izaak expounded, puskesmas (community health centers) treat people with lung disorders, but quite difficult cases such as MDR (Multi Drug Resistant) pulmonary TB are handled by the hospital.

Izaak said, his party is still coordinating with the surrounding puskesmas to handle TB.

In the last three months there were no significant increase in TBC cases in Ulin Hospital. “Outpatient care usually takes 10-20 patients, depends on hours of service,” he said.

Izaak strongly urges residents who have been exposed to TB to seek treatment regularly and take medication according to the doctor's prescription.

"If not regularly can make germ in the body become immune, thus it takes longer for people with TB to heal, as well as harming the surroundings because they can trasmit it more quickly," said Izaak.

Previously, Head of South Kalimantan Health Office dr Diauddin revealed that in 2022 as many as 7,556 residents were found to have tuberculosis.

His office together with the districts and cities' Health Office continue to track people with TB which has the potential to seriously affect the lungs, because it is suspected that many have not been detected.

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