Jakarta, April 6 -- Indonesia will renovate 2,000 homes to improve ventilation and help prevent tuberculosis (TB), the Health Ministry said on Monday, expanding cross-sector cooperation to tackle the disease.

Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said TB cases are most common among low-income households listed in Deciles 1-4 of the national socioeconomic database (DTSEN), which covers welfare recipients.

He said substandard housing conditions require urgent attention, as poor ventilation allows TB bacteria to persist indoors for extended periods.

"Tuberculosis bacteria can die after 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight exposure. But in poorly ventilated homes lacking sunlight and airflow, the bacteria can survive for months," he sa...