MALARIA PERDHAKI, Jayapura – The Indonesian Health Service Work Association (Perdhaki), through the Sub-Sub Recipient (SSR) of the Keerom Regency Deanery, Papua, held training for Village Malaria Workers (Juru Malaria Desa/JMD).

The Program Manager of SR Perdhaki for the Jayapura I Diocese Region, Irma Plautilda K. Reyaan, stated that there has been an increase in the number of Malaria cadres. Perdhaki aims to observe positive impacts and tangible contributions in the malaria elimination process in Keerom Regency.

“We are involved because we see the significant impact that malaria has caused in Keerom Regency. We feel the need to provide a real contribution \[to the community] by supporting human resource development through cadre training, as well as ensuring that this elimination program is sustainable,” Irma said to Jubi in Keerom Regency, Papua, on the evening of Saturday, October 5, 2024.

The training was held from Monday, October 1, 2024, to Friday, October 5, 2024. A total of 25 malaria cadres were trained. These cadres will be deployed across five community health centers: Senggi Health Center, Ywan Health Center, Arso Kota Health Center, Arso Barat Health Center, and Arso 3 Health Center. Each health center was assigned 1, 2, or 3 malaria cadres according to the needs of the villages.

Irma stated that these cadres are the frontline of the program who will conduct malaria testing and treatment directly within the community, as well as continuously provide education on malaria prevention. “This is part of the Catholic Church’s involvement through the health sector, particularly in malaria,” she said.

According to her, one of the challenges faced in implementing the Malaria program in Keerom Regency is the availability of logistics, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

"Besides that, the level of public awareness about the importance of malaria prevention and treatment still needs to be improved. However, with the support of all parties and strong commitment, we are confident that these challenges can be overcome," she said.

Acting Head of the Keerom District Health Office, dr. Bernadette Ekasoeci, said that during the training, the cadres were guided to improve malaria testing and to follow up with implementation in the field.

“These Malaria cadres, besides conducting tests, can also provide treatment therapy. Thus, malaria testing can be carried out consistently,” she said.

She added that with the addition of newly trained malaria cadres, it is hoped that in 2025 the malaria cases in Keerom Regency will decrease, allowing the stages of malaria elimination to be achieved.

The Keerom Regency Health Office itself is committed to providing malaria logistics and collaborating consistently with Perdhaki in the fight against malaria.

“Malaria logistics are a major concern for us, especially to prevent stockouts of malaria medication. We receive these medicines from the Papua Provincial Health Office because we cannot supply them on our own,” she said.

This news has already been published in Jubi Papua media. Link: https://jubi.id/penkes/2024/perdhaki-keuskupan-jayapura-i-konsisten-dukung-percepatan-eliminasi-malaria-di-keerom-papua/