MALARIA PERDHAKI, Keerom – The Regent of Keerom, Piter Gusbager, S.Hut, MUP, stated that eliminating malaria from Keerom is not an easy task. Therefore, he emphasized that all parties must work together to combat malaria in order to achieve Elmaripa, or malaria elimination in Papua by 2027, and a malaria-free Indonesia by 2030.

The Regent of Keerom conveyed this while attending the event Mass Blood Survey (MBS) or mass blood screening organized by Perdhaki GF-ATM-PPM at the Keerom Regency level in Yanama Village, Arso PIR I, on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

“We express our appreciation to Perdhaki for consistently implementing programs and activities to combat malaria. The API, or malaria prevalence rate, which was previously at the 200 level, has now decreased to around 120. However, we want Keerom to zero for malaria. Getting there is certainly not easy; all parties must support the efforts toward Elmaripa 2027 and a malaria-free Indonesia by 2030,” he said.

On that occasion, the Regent also highlighted that poor environmental conditions make it difficult to eliminate malaria mosquitoes.

“To eliminate malaria from Keerom, we must eliminate the mosquito habitats by managing the environment, drainage, and residential areas. This year’s National Health Day should inspire us to live healthily. Therefore, I take this moment to declare Keerom malaria-free, starting from Yanama Village,” said the Regent of Keerom further.

Also present at this event were the Chairperson of TP-PKK Keerom, Mrs. Angela T.H. Frank Gusbager, S.T., Arso Military Sector Commander (Danramil), Major Suprapto, Head of SSR PWK Jayapura I, Agus D., Head of Keerom Deanery, Pastor Kris Bidi, SVD, Event Committee Chairperson, Yonas, Acting Head of Yanama Village, as well as customary leaders (todat), community leaders (tomas), and residents of Yanama Village.

Meanwhile, the Head of SSR PWK Jayapura I, Agus D., stated that the MBS activity held over three days, from November 23 to 25, is an important moment for malaria eradication in Yanama Village and Keerom Regency.

“The MBS activity is a mass approach to handling malaria, involving mass blood testing, mass treatment for those infected with malaria, and efforts to make our yards free of malaria mosquitoes. We must make our yards mosquito-free. Malaria must be eliminated from our village. We clean the environment so that mosquitoes feel that our village is not their habitat, this regency is not their habitat, so that Yanama Village is malaria-free, and Keerom is malaria-free. Ultimately, Papua and Indonesia will also be malaria-free,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Committee Chairperson, Yonas, stated that the malaria activity was held in Yanama because the village ranks among the top three villages with the highest malaria prevalence, while Keerom is among the top four malaria-endemic areas in Papua after Jayapura City, Timika, and Sarmi.

“The activities on the first two days involved mass blood sampling served at three MBS examination posts. On the third day, the MBS team will conduct visits door to door. We have also prepared eight medical personnel consisting of three doctors, one nurse, one midwife, one analyst, and two pharmacy staff. The closing activity will be held on the afternoon of November 25, coinciding with the withdrawal door prize of the Regent of Keerom’s donation,” he explained.

The activity continued with malaria blood sampling for invited guests, including the Regent of Keerom, Chairperson of TP-PKK Keerom, Arso Military Sector Commander (Danramil), and others. The event concluded with a friendly gathering with the community of Yanama Village.

This article was published on lintaspapua.com on November 24, 2021. Link: https://www.lintaspapua.com/lintas-jayapura/pr-6554378266/dukung-giat-mbsperdhaki-bupati-piter-gusbager-enyahkan-malaria-dari-keerom-drainase-dan-rumah-harus-ditata