Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the Head of the Housing Task Force and Special Envoy to the President, said that the government's "3-Million Housing Program" is a strategic health intervention aimed at reducing stunting and tuberculosis (TB) rates. 

Speaking at a project launch at Manggarai Station on Monday (16/3/2026), he linked Indonesia's high prevalence of these conditions directly to substandard, overcrowded, and unsanitary living environments found in urban slums.

"We know that unhealthy environments cause stunting because children's health is compromised," Hashim said, as cited by antaranews.com. 

He further highlighted that Indonesia currently ranks second globally for TB prevalence, trailing only India. Data from the 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report estimates 1.09 million TB cases and 125,000 deaths annually in Indonesia. Poor ventilation and lack of sanitation in high-density housing are cited as primary drivers of this respiratory epidemic.

The housing initiative, which utilizes assets from state-owned enterprises like PT KAI, is designed to provide dignified living spaces that facilitate better public health outcomes. Hashim noted that recent free health screenings for 72 million citizens confirmed a high incidence of lung disease among those in inadequate housing. Beyond health, the program is expected to drive economic growth and social justice, mirroring successful housing-led development models seen in Singapore and South Korea.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)