REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in the world. Since 1992, World Health Organization (WHO) had declared tuberculosis as a global emergency. WHO report in 2004 stated, there were 8.8 million new cases of tuberculosis in 2002.

According to WHO data, the largest spread of TB cases occurred in Southeast Asia, namely 33 percent of all cases in the world. In Indonesia, although until the end of 2013 the prevalence decreased significantly in recent years, the number of tuberculosis in Indonesia was still relatively high.

Currently, number of tuberculosis in Indonesia was ranked fourth highest in the world. The prevalence of tuberculosis in Indonesia in 2013 was 297 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. Each year, new cases reached 460 thousand. Thus, the total number of cases in 2013 reached about 800 thousand to 900 thousand cases.

A surgeon Cardiothoratic expert of Gleaneagles Hospital Singapore, Dr. Su Jang Wen, said Southeast Asia countries have highest burden of tuberculosis. The countries need to learn from countries that successful in tackling tuberculosis.

"Stopping the tuberculosis need to involve a broad partnership. This partnership is not just a matter of funding, but in terms of access to the latest technologies and management in facing this disease," said Dr. Jang Su Wen to Republika, Wednesday (11/11).

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