Health Minister Calls For Accelerated Leprosy Screening, Surveillance

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Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin highlighted the need for accelerating leprosy screening and surveillance to eliminate the disease, as Indonesia ranks third globally for leprosy cases, below India and Brazil.

He noted that a few years ago, Indonesia recorded 16,000 leprosy cases. He noted that the country often ranks high for infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), and emphasized that the key to overcoming them is through screening and surveillance.

"I have integrated this into the Free Health Check (CKG) program; I just reviewed it. I added leprosy screening to the CKG services," he said during the World Leprosy Day commemoration in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, many people are still ashamed to undergo screening because leprosy is often perceived as a curse, while in fact, it is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.

He explained that leprosy, much like TB, has existed for thousands of years. Because people in ancient times could not explain its cause, it eventually became the subject of myths about divine punishment.

Sadikin further explained that some officials feel ashamed if their regions are found to have a high number of leprosy cases. To encourage active case finding, the ministry will provide rewards to regions that identify the most cases.

"Find as many as possible so we can treat them quickly with rifampicin. It is similar to TB treatment—using dapsone, it can be resolved in six months," he said.

To strengthen leprosy elimination efforts, he affirmed that his ministry will supplement surveillance in eastern Indonesia with genome sequencing. This is necessary because some people in eastern Indonesia are sensitive to dapsone treatment.

He added that once a person is diagnosed with leprosy, they must receive immediate and complete treatment. Close contacts are also given prophylaxis and other preventive medications, similar to the protocols for managing TB.

In addressing leprosy, the minister noted that the greatest challenge remains the stigma attached to patients. As a result, they are often viewed as "sinners," marginalized, or even subjected to shackling—treatment similar to that faced by people with mental health conditions.

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