MALARIA PERDHAKI, Paniai – The Community Welfare Development Foundation (YAPKEMA) revealed that positive malaria cases in Paniai are predominantly imported malaria cases. YAPKEMA’s Director, Hanok Herison Pigai, disclosed that they had identified nine patients testing positive for malaria. Seven of these cases were from Mogeya Village, one from Obaiyoweta Village, and one from Epouto Village. “The types of malaria found in these three locations are categorized as imported malaria. Imported malaria means the disease is brought by people who have previously lived in Nabire, Jayapura, or Timika, contracted malaria there, and then returned to their villages. These are not people who permanently reside in the villages,” he explained during the Perdhaki Malaria Workshop held at the GSG Uwata Wogi Yogi Hall in Enarotali, Papua, on Friday, October 13, 2017.

In the workshop, Pigai stated that the malaria workshop was held to prevent and combat malaria in Paniai Regency and the broader Meepago region. He mentioned that although the number of positive malaria cases in Paniai Regency is low, the disease still requires attention and seriousness, especially when compared to deadly illnesses like HIV/AIDS. “Therefore, malaria must be taken seriously. The number of positive malaria cases we found in Paniai is nine. That’s not many. But malaria must still be prevented. Especially since, as of last September, the number of AIDS patients has reached around one thousand. That’s just those who came for testing,” said Hanok.

To streamline their work, he said, they have established UKBM (Community-Based Health Efforts) since 2016. These UKBMs are located in four villages: UKBM Mogeya in West Paniai, UKBM Ugidimi in Bibida, UKBM Obaiyoweta in East Paniai (now Wegebino), and UKBM Epouto in Yatamo District. “We coordinate directly with the heads of the health centers (puskesmas) where the UKBMs are located. So, all health workers involved are directly engaged in the Perdhaki malaria program,” he explained. He mentioned that the Head of Bibida Health Center, Natalis Zonggonau, and Mrs. Wandik, Head of Obano Health Center, assigned Nurse Yanuaria Utii – an honorary staff member; Yatamo Health Center appointed Midwife Selviana Bobii; and Dr. Laswan assigned Nurse Gobai along with health cadres drawn from each village who have long been working or involved in previous YAPKEMA programs.

“Before the Perdhaki malaria program existed, these individuals had already been working with YAPKEMA in the field of HIV/AIDS. So, they are not new to this work,” he explained. He said they have been given training and equipped with essential and practical knowledge about malaria. They were also instructed in basic skills such as calculating an infant’s age, counting breaths, and recognizing danger signs in toddlers.

He expressed the hope that, when carrying out malaria examinations and treatments, these health workers would also be able to provide first aid or referrals for emergency cases that cannot be handled at the puskesmas (community health centers). Beyond that, the goal is to reduce the mortality rate among the indigenous Papuan people, which has been increasingly significant each year and has serious implications, even described as leading to a form of genocide. Alberth H., Program Manager of Yayasan Caritas Timika Papua (SR YCTP) under the Diocese of Timika, stated that the main objective of the Perdhaki malaria program is to eliminate malaria in Eastern Indonesia and to lower the death toll caused by this disease.

In the Meepago region, he said, the Perdhaki malaria program has already been running in three districts, namely Nabire, Dogiyai, and Paniai. "In Nabire, there are 5 villages, in Dogiyai 4 villages, and in Paniai 4 villages. Thankfully, in all these villages, the program has been running optimally despite some challenges," he said. According to him, the Perdhaki malaria program has a strong desire to reach all areas throughout the Meepago region. For this reason, cooperation is expected from various united institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, located in each respective area.

Alberth H. emphasized that AIDS, tuberculosis (TBC), and malaria are three deadly diseases that have claimed thousands of lives, ranging from infants to adults. Therefore, he urged all parties, both government and non-governmental organizations, to jointly give serious attention to ensure the smooth implementation and success of programs aimed at combating these diseases. According to him, synergy and support from various elements are crucial so that efforts to fight these three diseases can be effective and produce positive impacts on public health. Meanwhile, Sister Apriana Zonggonau, a member of the UKBM Ugidimi in Bibida, expressed that she has greatly benefited from the Perdhaki malaria program. She conveyed that through this program, she has gained much knowledge and skills, which have increased her confidence in caring for and administering medication to the community in her service area. With this improved capability, the number of people coming to receive services has significantly increased compared to before. Her testimony serves as concrete evidence that this program is not only effective in enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers at the community level but also has a direct positive impact on the quality of health services for the local population.

This news has already been published on suarapapua.com, link: https://suarapapua.com/2017/10/14/yapkema-malaria-impor-dominan-di-paniai/