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The Indonesian Health Ministry is prioritizing the elimination of leprosy through active case-finding and cross-sector collaboration. Officials emphasized that the disease is curable and urged regional leaders to treat it as a core development priority.
Why it matters
Leprosy remains a significant public health challenge in Indonesia, and shifting the focus from stigma to early medical intervention is critical for eradication.
Jakarta, IO – The Health Ministry (Kemenkes) reinforced its commitment to accelerating leprosy elimination across the archipelago by strengthening active case-finding, ensuring early treatment, and driving cross-sector collaboration. This commitment was solidified at the 2026 National Leprosy Conference in Jakarta on Friday (10/7/2026).
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Pratikno emphasized that leprosy elimination cannot be accomplished by the health sector alone. He noted that the program’s success heavily relies on the active involvement of all stakeholders, particularly local governments, which serve as the frontline of public service delivery.
“Central government programs ultimately culminate in the regions. Therefore, I deeply commend the governors and regional heads attending today. Dealing with leprosy must become a cross-sector movement,” Pratikno said. “Education, communication, schools, religious organizations and the business sector must move together to wipe out stigma and accelerate detection and treatment.”
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