JAKARTA – Today, the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Kristen Baur and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo launched the Community Empowerment of People Against Tuberculosis (CEPAT) health program in Jakarta. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the program supports community-based outreach and care for tuberculosis (TB).

“The American people are investing $12 million through USAID’s CEPAT program to support Indonesian organizations and local communities to combat tuberculosis and save lives,” said Baur. “USAID is proud to partner with the Ministry of Health and support their TB program. Together, we will get more people diagnosed, and support patients to complete their treatment and be cured for TB.” 

To increase the number of people who get tested, treated, and cured for TB in Jakarta, USAID supports several Indonesian organizations, including Jaringan Kesehatan/Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (JKM) in Jakarta.  The Family Welfare Movement team (Tim Pengerak Pembina Kesejahteraan Keluarga/PKK) of Jakarta province, headed by Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo’s wife, Ibu Iriana Widodo, hosted today’s event to demonstrate their support of USAID CEPAT’s work to fight TB in Jakarta.

Indonesia remains among the top five countries globally with the highest TB infections. There are about 450,000 new TB cases and 65,000 TB-related deaths in Indonesia every year. Multi-drug resistant strains of TB are on the rise. Approximately 30 percent of Indonesia’s estimated TB cases are not detected, and many patients are diagnosed late.

Last year, USAID recognized Indonesia’s global leadership in the fight against TB in ceremonies in Washington D.C and Jakarta, highlighting Indonesia’s progress in achieving its Millennium Development Goals for TB.  

USAID CEPAT works with communities and local organizations to reach people who live in urban slums, displaced and mobile populations, the uninsured and people with reduced immunity due to malnourishment or HIV infection.  CEPAT also supports the Lembaga Kesehatan Nadhlatul Ulama, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Timika; the project works in DKI Jakarta, West Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Papua, and West Papua.      

USAID partners with the Government of Indonesia and local governments to reduce the threat of infectious disease and to provide services to reduce preventable deaths. This support is an important component of the U.S. government’s overall partnership with the Government of Indonesia in health and is included in the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, a commitment made by our two presidents to deepen bilateral relations between the United States and Indonesia.