Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, lauched the Joint Movement to Strengthen Tuberculosis (TB) Alert Village and Urban Village 2025 at the courtyard of Rambutan Urban Village Office, Ciracas Sub-disrict, East Jakarta.

This launch was also attended by Vice Minister of Village and Underdeveloped Area Development, Ahmad Riza Patria; Head of Presidential Communications, Hasan Nasbi; Vice Minister of Home Affairs, Ribka Haluk; and East Jakarta Mayor, Munjirin.

Budi stated that TB cases have actually existed for thousands of years. Over the past 100 years, TB has caused deaths of about one billion people.

"TB is one of the dangerous and deadly diseases. Every year, more than a million people die, or two people day in every minute worldwide due to TB," he stated, on Friday (5/9).

He explained, TB patients can actually be treated because there is medication available. Therefore, if the patients are identified, they can be treated until fully recovered.

"We hope that the cough monitoring cadres (Jumantuk) in every region can detect residents suspected of having TB , so they can be treated," he said.

East Jakarta Mayor, Munjirin, conveyed that last year, the Jakarta Government launched TB-Free Village program, one of which is in Rambutan Urban Village, which has been recognized as the best in handling TB.

"TB handling can succeed not only by relying on government, but also requires the involvement of the community and stakeholders in each area," he added.

According to him, TB cases remain relatively high, equiring extensive efforts to address them. He even proposed that each sub-district compete in efforts to eradicate TB.

"There needs to be empowerment and public education to achieve zero TB," he asserted.

Meanwhile, East Jakarta Health Sub-agency Head, Herwin Meifendy, mentioned that Kampung Rambutan Alert Village was formed in 2024 with 30 cadres in RW 06, Kampung Rambutan Urban Village.

"All cadres have been trained by Ciracas Sub-district Health Center regarding Tb and communication pattern that need to be implemented," he said.

He explained that the innovation program implemented in the area includes Investigation and Screening for TB, Contact Tracing (TC), and Screening for TB (SR) and cross-sectoral and cluster partnerships (Sidokar).

"Based on data from East Jakarta Health Sub-agency, there are currently 2,645 residents who are confirmed to have TB. Meanwhile, the number of residents suspected of having TB reaches 17,363 people," he concluded.