Sarmi Moves Swiftly: Cross-Sector Commitment to Achieve a Malaria-Free Sarmi Soon

The Sarmi Regency Government has demonstrated its seriousness and strong commitment to eliminating malaria as soon as possible. On May 6, 2026, stakeholders convened a strategic meeting at the Office of the Regent of Sarmi to formulate concrete measures to accelerate malaria elimination in the Land of Papua.

Sarmi Regent, Mr. Dominggus Catue, directly led the meeting, accompanied by the Head of the Health Office, Andris Maniagasi, Health Office Secretary Miler Bane, and the Acting Malaria Officer of the Health Office, Suhaidi. Representatives from Malaria Perdhaki, namely SSR St. Antonius Sarmi 2 and St. Antonius Sarmi 3, also attended the meeting.

Regent Dominggus Catue emphasized that the fight against malaria requires support from all parties. As a tangible step forward, the meeting produced a crucial outcome in the form of financial support for frontline malaria elimination workers.

The Regent committed to immediately summoning the Head of the Village Community Empowerment Agency (BPMK) to review the Village Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBK). He aims to ensure that village funds and Special Autonomy funds can finance the operational activities of malaria cadres.

Another important measure is the reactivation of the Malaria Center by the Sarmi Regency Government. This institution will serve as a hub for information, communication, and cross-sector coordination. The presence of the Malaria Center will enable the Regency Government to monitor all team activities while reducing various bureaucratic obstacles.

In its early detection efforts, the Sarmi Regency Government has set a target of conducting 250,000 malaria examinations per year. To achieve this target, the government will implement the use of Malaria Examination Cards. Each village will be responsible for the cost of reproducing the cards, as part of the villages’ commitment to malaria elimination.

Sarmi Regency will consistently implement the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s TOKEN CEK strategy. This strategy serves as a key pillar in reducing malaria cases in highly endemic areas. The four concrete actions under TOKEN CEK are as follows: first, T (Temukan/Find): identifying cases as early as possible within communities; second, O (Obati/Treat): providing prompt and appropriate treatment for positive patients; third, KEN (Kendalikan/Control): controlling vectors to break the chain of transmission; fourth, CEK (Check Again): conducting regular monitoring to ensure patients fully recover.

This commitment appears to go beyond mere rhetoric. Several follow-up actions are already planned. On May 11, 2026, Malaria Perdhaki and the Health Office will hold a coordination meeting to synchronize data. The Sarmi Regency Government also plans to conduct comparative studies with regencies that have successfully achieved malaria elimination status, in order to adopt their best practices in Sarmi Regency.

This strategic meeting marks a new chapter for Sarmi Regency. The close collaboration between the Regency Government, the Health Office, and Malaria Perdhaki has strengthened public hope that Sarmi will soon become free from malaria.