Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian on Tuesday urged regional leaders to intensify efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB), calling the disease a persistent public health threat requiring stronger local action.
Speaking at the Forum of Eight Governors for Accelerating Tuberculosis Elimination in Jakarta, Tito pressed governors, mayors, and district heads to fully use their authority and resources to curb TB cases."I urge regional leaders with power, authority, policies, and resources to take this issue more seriously," he said.
ito highlighted that despite long-standing knowledge about TB and available treatments, the disease continues to kill thousands each year. Indonesia is expected to record 1.09 million TB cases and 125,000 deaths in 2025, according to the latest Global Tuberculosis Report.
Tito emphasized that TB eradication is a shared responsibility between the central and regional governments.
He urged eight key provinces — Banten, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara — to maximize their efforts.
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“This is about saving lives. I ask all regional governments to act decisively,” he said, adding that regular meetings will be held to monitor progress.
During the forum, the eight provinces declared their commitment to accelerating TB elimination, with the pledge read by Banten Governor Andra Soni.
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The event was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Presidential Chief of Staff A. M. Putranto, and senior officials from the Cabinet Secretariat.
Several regional leaders, including South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman and North Sumatra Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, were also present.