Small Victories, Big Meaning: How Aleksandro Protects Aikawapuka

MALARIA PERDHAKI–Mimika. Aleksandro’s story clearly proves that physical limitations are not a barrier to making a significant contribution to public health in Aikawapuka Village, Central Mimika District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province.

As a Malaria Cadre under the supervision of the Atuka Community Health Center (Puskesmas), this resilient man dedicates all his time to fighting malaria in his village. Every day, Aleksandro walks from house to house to provide education on the importance of healthy living practices. He also actively monitors the use of insecticide-treated bed nets in each household and encourages community members to undergo regular blood tests.

Although his steps are not as fast as others, Aleksandro’s strong determination overcomes all physical limitations in his mission to save lives. He holds firmly to the principle that caring for others is a shared responsibility that must be acted upon immediately, without waiting for someone else to begin.

The greatest test of Aleksandro’s dedication occurred at the end of 2025, when extreme weather—strong winds and heavy rain—struck his village. At that time, he was handling a three-year-old child with a high fever. The situation became critical because access to the health center was quite far and required a boat, while Aleksandro’s boat had run out of fuel. There was no fuel available in the village, as suppliers had not yet been able to bring stock from the city.

This forced the toddler’s parents to remain at home. Upon hearing this, Aleksandro immediately set out, wading through floodwaters until he reached the patient’s house at night. He found the child shivering severely, and the RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) result showed positive for malaria. At the same time, Aleksandro had to face the harsh reality that the medicine stock at the sub-health post (Pustu) was empty.

Amid heavy rain, strong winds, and poor communication signals, Aleksandro continued trying to contact the Atuka Health Center. He decided to stay with the patient’s family throughout the night to calm the panicked parents while continuously applying compresses to the child’s body.

Aleksandro admitted that at that moment he felt almost helpless due to his physical limitations and the lack of medicine, but he held firmly to his principle of not abandoning people in times of difficulty. His persistence paid off when health workers arrived the next day bringing the necessary medicine, allowing the toddler to receive immediate treatment and fully recover.

This dramatic incident only strengthened Aleksandro’s resolve to continue serving, as he realized that the community deeply needs his presence during the most difficult times.

His extraordinary dedication has earned high appreciation from the Head of Aikawapuka Village, who regards Aleksandro as a symbol of inspiration for other cadres. In a village that remains endemic, he has become a key driving force in malaria elimination efforts through strict environmental monitoring.

Aleksandro continues to urge residents to immediately report severe malaria symptoms to the nearest health services to prevent fatal outcomes. For him, every life saved is a great victory—one that continually fuels his spirit to serve the community without end.