The Adi Dharma Clinic has offered counseling services to about 100 mothers and their children living in Kebanggan village in Central Java to prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB). Seven doctors and eight nuns participated last weekend in the counseling at the Dominican Sisters-run clinic, in part to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the nuns’ arrival in Indonesia in 1931. Sister Anna Maria, the clinic’s director, said the program was held in Kebanggan because of the high incidence of TB in the area. “We chose this village because many tuberculosis patients undergoing medical treatments in our clinic came from this village,” she said. “Our congregation is renewing its service [to the public]. We encourage people to do the same. We offer them the program so they know and understand more about tuberculosis and so that we can finally prevent it. We do not want to wait for them to come [to the clinic] for medical treatement.” Ariyanti Wijayasari, a doctor at the clinic, told the group that both adults and children can contract TB, though most adults only seek testing and treatment for their children. “If your children suffer from tuberculosis, it means you suffer it, too,” she said, adding that parents must be more aware and involved in order to prevent the spread of a disease that sounds frightening “but that can be prevented and cured.” One participant, Ristayanti, said one of her family members suffers from TB. “Now I know how to prevent it from being transmitted to my children,” the 45-year-old mother said. The Dominican Sisters have 102 nuns serving in Jakarta and Semarang archdiocese, as well as in the diocese of Bandung, Larantuka and Purwokerto. Related reports: Archdiocese joins WHO fight against malariaCatholic foundation ends tuberculosis program for lack of funds