UNAIR NEWS – To break the chain of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in children, Movement for Healthy Mothers and Children (Geliat), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held a webinar for Children TB Health Facilities, Thursday, September 22, 2022, via Zoom Meeting. This webinar was a part of “Capacity Building Health Workers in Children TB Elimination Program” in collaboration with UNICEF Indonesia.
The speakers at the event included dr. Tiffany Tiara Pakasi MA, Acting Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (P2PM) of Indonesian Ministry of Health; dr. Arda Pratama Putra Chafid SpA, member of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI); Susanto Adi Wibowo, the person in charge of TB for the City of Surabaya; and Priyo Susilo SKepNs, representatives of the P2PM of Surabaya City Health Office (Dinkes).
Children TB overview
TB in children is caused by infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium which can be prevented by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Nevertheless, cases of TB in children cannot be underestimated because the estimated infectious disease reached 42,187 out of a total of 824,000 cases in 2021.
According to dr. Tiara, TB in children is not only a health problem, but also nutritional and environmental factors. “For this reason, it is necessary to have a fast and appropriate early detection following the Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 67 of 2021 concerning Tuberculosis Management,” she said.
Then, dr. Arda explained that TB can attack the lungs, glands, bones, and other organs. Symptoms include cough and fever for more than two weeks, weight loss in the past two months, and lethargy.
He also proposed preventive measures for patients who are infected with TB, but do not show symptoms. “The target to end tuberculosis can be achieved by 2035 if we combine active treatment and preventive therapy,” said the doctor who also serves in the Division of Pediatric Respirology at Dr Soetomo Hospital.
Children TB Elimination Program
Susanto explained that children TB data in Surabaya in 2022 was 8 percent of the 11.69 percent suspected. So apart from health workers, the government’s role as a policy maker is needed to create integration and collaboration between sectors.
So far, the TB treatment programs carried out by the Surabaya City Health Office are screening activities, contact investigations through Cak and Ning 1-20 Movement with the sub-district TB Task Force, strengthening TB internal networks with an inter-clinics role, as well as outreach on social media.
In the end, Priyo emphasized the importance of the contribution of various parties, such as health workers or cadres, puskesmas, and health facilities, in conducting contact investigations. “For TB elimination, we have to work together, our realization in Surabaya City is the Perwali (Mayor Regulation) acceleration team where one of the members is UNAIR,” he said.
Author: Sela Septi Dwi Arista
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
