In commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day which falls on March 24, the Urban Resilience Initiative and Collaboration (URIC) in collaboration with the Sriwedari Library launched the “Health Literacy” movement.

Dozens of participants seemed enthusiastic to attend the activity which was held in the Sriwedari Village Library Hall. The speakers of the health literacy movement included Noor Alis Setiyadi, S.KM, M.KM, Dr. PH. as well as Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Public Health Experts (IAKMI) of Sukoharjo Regency and also Lecturer of Public Health at Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.

The chairman of the committee, Miatus Sholikhah, said that the health literacy movement is expected to increase knowledge and insight about Tuberculosis (TBC).

Sholikhah hopes that through this movement it can also prevent the occurrence of TB disease. This Health Literacy Movement carries the theme “Time for TB-Free Indonesia, Starting from Me”.

On that occasion, the presenter conveyed the definition and symptoms of TB. This disease is caused by the TB bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis which enters the body through breathing and can be spread through the air.

According to Noor Alis, based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, globally in 2016 there were 10.4 million TB incident cases, equivalent to 120 cases per 100,000 population. In 2017, Indonesia was in the number three position with the highest TB incidence of 842,000 people.

Furthermore, Noor Alis explained that TB sufferers who do not know their age and social status, such as BJ Habibie (the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia) who contracted TB at the age of 20, Chairil Anwar (a leading Indonesian poet), and Nelson Mandela (President of Africa). South). TB disease does not know anyone, anywhere and anytime.

“TB control that must be carried out is through the TOSS (Find Cure Until Heal) Movement in order to realize a TB-free Indonesia in 2035,” he said.