Papua Becomes the Epicenter of Malaria, Government Optimistic About Achieving 2030 Elimination Target

MALARIA PERDHAKI – JAKARTA. Indonesia has recorded significant progress in its national malaria elimination program. However, major challenges remain in the eastern horizon. The land of Papua has been identified as the largest contributor to malaria cases in Indonesia. Based on data from the Ministry of Health as of April 2026, 95 percent of total national cases are concentrated in six provinces in the Papua region: Southwest Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua.

Although Indonesia has experienced a 30 percent increase in malaria cases this year, this phenomenon is not viewed as a setback. The Ministry of Health notes that this rise is driven by two crucial factors: the massive expansion of active case detection in the field and improvements in digital reporting systems through the Malaria Surveillance Information System (SISMAL), which have made data more transparent and accurate.

The Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Andi Saguni, emphasized that malaria control efforts in Indonesia are actually showing positive development. “At present, the malaria control program in Indonesia has demonstrated quite encouraging progress. We must continue to strengthen prevention and control efforts nationwide,” he said.

In contrast to the situation in the eastern region, significant success has been achieved elsewhere. Currently, 412 out of 514 districts/cities in Indonesia have officially been declared malaria-free. In fact, seven provinces have achieved full elimination status: Jakarta, Banten, West Java, East Java, Bali, Yogyakarta Special Region, and South Sumatra.

To achieve malaria-free status, a region must meet strict criteria for three consecutive years, including: an incidence rate below 1 per 1,000 population, a positivity rate below 5 percent, and zero locally transmitted cases. This achievement serves as concrete proof that the elimination target is not impossible.

At present, other regions in Indonesia are still progressing toward elimination. Ministry of Health records show that there are still 44 districts/cities classified as low endemic, 23 as moderate endemic, and 35 that remain in the high endemic category.

Despite the significant challenges in high endemic areas, the government remains optimistic that Papua will soon follow. This optimism is reinforced by positive precedents from Maybrat and South Sorong Regencies, which have successfully achieved malaria elimination status. Their success demonstrates that proper and consistent interventions can yield results, even in areas with the highest case burdens.

Although this effort requires long-term commitment from both Indonesia and the global community, cross-sector collaboration remains the key. Through strengthened medical strategies—such as DNA-based screening and mass distribution of mosquito nets—the government is confident that the goal of a malaria-free Indonesia by 2030 can be achieved nationwide, from Sabang to Merauke.