NERS NEWS — Nursing Profession students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) activity titled “Tuberculosis Can Be Cured, As Long as Patients Stay Compliant” at Kenjeran Community Health Center (Puskesmas Kenjeran) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The activity aimed to increase public knowledge about tuberculosis (TB), the importance of treatment adherence, and efforts to prevent disease transmission within families and communities.
The PKRS activity was conducted through lectures, discussions, and question-and-answer sessions supported by educational media in the form of leaflets and posters. The materials covered the definition of tuberculosis, its causes and modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, high-risk groups, the importance of early screening for individuals experiencing a cough lasting two weeks or more, and measures to prevent transmission. These measures included practicing proper cough etiquette, wearing a mask when necessary, maintaining environmental cleanliness, ensuring adequate ventilation at home for good air circulation, and consuming nutritious food to strengthen the immune system. Participants were also provided with information about the importance of taking anti-tuberculosis drugs (OAT) regularly and completing the treatment according to healthcare professionals’ recommendations. The education emphasized that tuberculosis is a curable disease when patients adhere to their treatment schedules and do not stop taking their medication prematurely.
Throughout the activity, participants showed high enthusiasm by actively following the educational session and participating in the discussion and question-and-answer sessions. Various questions were raised regarding how tuberculosis is transmitted, the duration of treatment, possible medication side effects, the possibility of disease recurrence, and measures that should be taken to prevent transmission to family members. The high level of participation demonstrated the continued need for tuberculosis education to increase public awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment adherence.
The PKRS activity was conducted by Nursing Profession students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, under the guidance of academic and clinical supervisors. All activities were carried out according to the planned program, beginning with the opening session, delivery of educational materials, discussion and evaluation sessions, and concluding with the closing session. The education session lasted approximately 60 minutes and ended with the distribution of leaflets as educational materials that participants could review at home. Posters were also used during the session to help participants better understand the information presented. The entire activity was documented as part of the PKRS implementation report.
The activity was motivated by the continued high incidence of tuberculosis in Indonesia and the importance of increasing public awareness of treatment adherence. Failure to adhere to anti-tuberculosis medication can lead to treatment failure, disease recurrence, and the development of drug resistance. Therefore, health education for the community is expected to improve knowledge, awareness, and healthy behaviors, thereby supporting successful treatment and helping break the chain of tuberculosis transmission in the community.
This health education activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the provision of health education to the community, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between educational institutions and healthcare facilities to improve community health. Overall, the activity had a positive impact on participants and is expected to continue sustainably as part of the contribution of educational institutions to supporting tuberculosis control programs in Indonesia.
Writer: Jannahtul Choiriah
