Kader Perkasa Become the Frontline of Primary Care Service Integration in Papua

Integration of Primary Health Care (ILP) carries the spirit of social justice in breaking down geographical barriers across Papua. As is well known, access to health facilities is often hindered by the region’s extreme terrain, as well as limited medical personnel and logistical resources. In response to these challenges, Perkuat Kader Satu (Kader Perkasa) was established as a concrete effort to bring health services closer to communities at the grassroots level.

Kader Perkasa is a cadre transformation program initiated by Malaria Perdhaki in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The program recruits active malaria cadres, the majority of whom are members of local Indigenous communities. These cadres are then strengthened through intensive training on the prevention and management of Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. This was presented by Dr. Ari Hermawan in his presentation entitled “Lessons Learned from Kader Perkasa” at the online event Accelerating the Reduction of Malaria Cases and Maintaining Malaria Elimination within the Framework of Primary Health Care Integration, held on August 18, 2026.

The role of Kader Perkasa has now become broader and more comprehensive. In addition to conducting early detection and providing malaria treatment, the cadres also serve as agents of change during home visits by providing education on TB and HIV, referring suspected patients to community health centers (puskesmas), and assisting with the distribution of sputum containers for TB testing. Their presence serves as a vital link that helps bridge the distance between communities and health facilities.

To date, 90 cadres and 18 cadre supervisors have been deployed across 18 puskesmas in three areas: 7 puskesmas in Merauke Regency, 6 in Nabire Regency, and 5 in Jayapura Regency. These locations were selected based on the level of geographical difficulty, with the aim of ensuring that community-based services can reach residents living beyond the reach of regular health facilities.

Malaria Perdhaki’s 10 months of operational experience has shown that integrating multiple health issues into a single home visit significantly improves cost efficiency while also strengthening the emotional connection between residents and puskesmas. This success has also been fully supported by the health offices in the three regencies through the issuance of official decrees that provide legal legitimacy and clarify the cadres’ roles in the field.

With continued regulatory support and ongoing guidance from puskesmas, Malaria Perdhaki is optimistic that the Kader Perkasa empowerment model has strong potential to be expanded and replicated in other remote areas.