ITS Sends Architecture Department Team to Improve Living Conditions for TB Patients on Kangean Island

Sumenep, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has sent a team from its Department of Architecture to conduct a survey of healthy housing for tuberculosis (TB) patients on Kangean Island, East Java. The four-day survey, which began on Thursday, July 24, aims to enhance the quality of life and health of TB patients by improving their housing conditions. This initiative follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ITS and Rumah Sakit Terapung Ksatria Airlangga (RSTKA) on July 11, 2024.

Kangean Island, located at the eastern edge of Sumenep waters and requiring an eight-hour journey by Sabuk Nusantara ship or a four-hour trip by fast boat from Kalianget-Sumenep Harbor, is the focal point of this project.

The survey team, led by Sarah Cahyadini, ST., MT., PhD, includes Wahyu Setyo Putro, S.Hum. from Rumah Sakit Terapung Ksatria Airlangga (RSTKA), and Wahyu Dewantoro, ST. They visited several homes of TB patients across various areas on Kangean Island and its surroundings to assess sanitation, ventilation, lighting, and other health-related aspects that impact TB recovery and transmission.

“Initial surveys reveal that many TB patients’ homes on Kangean Island do not meet healthy housing standards. We found inadequate ventilation and minimal natural lighting to be major issues that need immediate attention,” Sarah said.

Sarah Cahyadini, Ph.D., conducting a survey and interviewing local residents.

In addition to the survey, the ITS team also provided education to the local community on the importance of environmental cleanliness and improving home ventilation to prevent the spread of TB. They suggested simple yet effective improvements that could significantly enhance home health conditions.

Sarah added, “We hope that the results of this survey will serve as a foundation for ITS, RSTKA, and other stakeholders to take concrete steps to improve the living conditions of TB patients on Kangean Island. With healthier homes, we are optimistic that patients can recover faster and TB transmission can be minimized.”

Dr. Yohanes Widyakusuma Eka Saputra, Field Coordinator for the TB Elimination Acceleration Mission at RSTKA, sees the involvement of the ITS Department of Architecture team as a crucial step towards a more holistic approach to health services.

“The epidemiological triangle—host, agent, and environment—can be more effectively addressed by focusing on the patients’ home environments. I am confident that the ITS Department of Architecture’s involvement will help lead Kangean Island towards becoming TB-free,” he explained.

This survey marks the beginning of a collaborative community service program between ITS and Rumah Sakit Terapung Ksatria Airlangga. The program underscores ITS’s commitment to making tangible contributions to community well-being, particularly in remote areas like Kangean Island.

The TB Elimination Acceleration Program in the Archipelago involves multiple stakeholders, including RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya, the Faculty of Medicine and Universitas Airlangga, the Sumenep Regency Government, PT Pelindo, PT Petrogas, Protelindo, and RSTKA.

“This program is also part of our efforts to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. By improving housing conditions for TB patients, we are contributing to the reduction of infectious diseases and the overall enhancement of quality of life,” concluded Sarah.

Survey Team for Healthy Housing for TB Patients on Kangean Island