By: Mayangsari Nindi )*
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a scourge for public health in Indonesia. Although it was discovered thousands of years ago and its cure is widely available, TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world, including in Indonesia. This requires extraordinary efforts. A systematic and collaborative strategy is needed in eradicating TB so that the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 is not disrupted by health problems that should already be effectively controlled.
In this context, the launch of the TB Alert Village program by the Ministry of Health on May 9, 2025, is an important step that deserves to be appreciated and its implementation encouraged to the grassroots. TB Alert Village is not only a sectoral program, but a national movement that inspires the spirit of mutual cooperation in the community in fighting TB. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that this disease, although deadly, is very curable if detected and treated early.
In statistical terms, one million Indonesians are infected with TB every year, and 125 thousand of them die. This is equivalent to one death every four minutes. This figure is not just medical data, but a real portrait of the weakness of early detection, public awareness, and structural constraints of health services. Therefore, this program does not stop at the symbolic level.
The Minister of Health gave three main instructions that became the direction of the TB Alert Village policy. First, find all TB patients in the community until the target of one million cases can be identified. Second, provide direct treatment without delay so that transmission can be stopped quickly. Third, ensure the continuation of treatment until complete to prevent drug resistance. These three pillars are logical and practical foundations that must be translated concretely by health cadres, village officials, and patient families.
President Prabowo Subianto through the Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Hasbi, emphasized that human resource development is the main priority towards Golden Indonesia. Therefore, health is a fundamental pillar that cannot be negotiated. Free health checks, hospital construction, and eradication of TB are three national focuses that can only be achieved with cross-sector cooperation and public participation. This shows that the central government understands the urgency of TB not only from a medical perspective, but as a policy challenge that impacts productivity, the economy, and the quality of future generations.
In its technical implementation, the role of the regions is very vital. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk emphasized the importance of synergy between the central and regional governments. Without close collaboration, TB control will only be a jargon. Commitment and budget allocation at the village and sub-district levels are indicators of the success of the implementation of this program. This means that the responsibility to combat TB cannot be placed on the health sector alone, but must be a cross-ministerial and cross-level government movement.
Support from the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions is also a positive signal in this movement. Deputy Minister Ahmad Riza Patria revealed that village funds of IDR 400 million to IDR 1 billion per year can be partially used to combat TB and stunting. This opens up great opportunities for villages to innovate in creating a healthy and resilient ecosystem. Proposals for similar programs in sub-district areas also need to be prepared immediately to ensure equal distribution of services and early detection.
No less important is attention to fulfilling the basic needs of TB patients. Former Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari provided valuable input that the TB Alert Village program would be more effective if accompanied by the provision of free nutritious food and improvement of the patient’s living environment. This input is very relevant, considering that the healing process of TB patients is highly dependent on nutritional intake and environmental conditions. Providing medication alone is not enough. Without intervention in the nutritional and sanitation aspects, patients will find it difficult to fully recover and are at risk of becoming a source of reinfection.
Eradicating TB is not only about curing the sick, but also building a resilient public health system. The Joint Movement to Strengthen TB Alert Villages and Sub-districts that has been launched nationally must be a trigger for all elements of the nation to take part. RT, RW, Puskesmas, community organizations, and religious leaders have a strategic role in socializing the importance of early detection, complete treatment, and community supervision.
The spirit of TB alertness is truly the spirit of safeguarding the future of the nation. If today’s generation grows up in poor health conditions due to TB, then national competitiveness in the future will be disrupted. Therefore, every effort to eradicate TB is a strategic investment for national resilience. There is no place for TB in a country that wants to become a great power in 2045. Serious, integrated, and participatory TB handling will be a benchmark for the success of national health development.
The government has paved the way with progressive policies. Now is the time for the community to take action, making villages and sub-districts the front line in the fight against TB.
)* The author is a health observer
