JAKARTA: The Jakarta Provincial Government is accelerating efforts to control tuberculosis (TB) in order to free the metropolitan city from TB in 2030 by establishing TB alert villages in 267 community villages, reported ANTARA news agency.

"This is a manifestation of the TB control strategy at the regional level," Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Service, Ani Ruspitawati, stated at the "Kick-Off of the Team for TB Control Acceleration and the Establishment of TB Alert Villages inJakarta" on Wednesday.

Ruspitawati remarked that selected community villages are chosen to become a pilot project and need leadership from heads of community villages, up to the district head and mayor.

This effort is followed by innovations to accelerate TB control through the implementation of basic TB-related services in each alert community village combined with the development of community-based health efforts and massive health promotion, Ruspitawati stated.

"TB alert community villages are expected to be ready in overcoming the TB problem in Jakarta with its resources, abilities, and willingness," she affirmed.

Her side would show appreciation to the five best TB alert community villages in October 2024.

The selection of the best alert community village is based on several aspects, such as the availability of policies; facilities and infrastructure; discovery and assistance efforts; health promotion and community empowerment; innovation; and achievement of TB control program indicators.

Data from the Jakarta Health Service in 2023 showed there were 60,420 new TB patients from all suspected TB patients undergoing examination.

"Moreover, the number of TB cases in children was recorded at 9,684, or around 16 per cent of the total TB cases, and 86 per cent had actually received treatment, but it was still below the national target of 95 percent," she explained.

According to Ruspitawati, 535 out of every 100 thousand residents in Jakarta suffer from TB, while the TB elimination target that must be achieved by 2030 is 65 cases per 100 thousand population.

Hence, she underscored the need for massive efforts to achieve this target by 2030.

"We have to reduce the incidence of TB, from 60,420 cases in 2030 to around 6,900 cases. We need efforts eight times bigger to overcome this. It requires innovative efforts like what we are doing recently," she stated.