Synergy of Jayapura Residents and Health Workers: Yahim and Kuipons Villages Formally Pass Village Regulations and Establish Task Forces for Malaria Elimination

Malaria elimination requires both medical interventions and collective community support. Villages in Papua have established a special task force involving local leaders and prominent figures. This team is tasked with synergizing health workers and trained cadres with broader community participation to promote breeding ground surveillance, early detection, and medication adherence.

By: Tomi S. Aliljaman, PM SSR Yapukepa 2

MALARIA PERDHAKI–JAYAPURA. The Jayapura District Health Office recorded that within the first three months of 2026, malaria screenings reached 130,450 people, with 19,542 positive cases recorded through April 2026. Meanwhile, in 2025, approximately 71,000 malaria cases were registered in Jayapura District.

To combat the endemic status of malaria, two villages in Jayapura District, Papua, are actively stepping up their elimination efforts. Yahim Village in Sentani District and Kuipons Village in Nimboran District recently issued malaria eradication guidelines and established a Malaria Elimination Task Force through a Decree. This achievement marks an important step in strengthening the commitment and role of village governments in sustainable malaria control.

The task force consists of 20 members representing the local government, youth, malaria cadres, and public health center (puskesmas) representatives. What sets this initiative apart is the active involvement of government officials and local figures to raise community awareness and mobilize residents for communal cleanups (gotong royong) to clear standing water and monitor adherence to malaria medication.

The health center will provide guidance through a WhatsApp group. Moving forward, the task force—led by the village head—will mobilize residents to assist cadres and health center workers with non-medical tasks.

The new members are enthusiastic about carrying out their duties, driven by a mutual desire to protect their own families.

This development follows coordination efforts initiated in July 2026. Malaria Perdhaki, through SR PWK Jayapura 2, actively coordinated and communicated with the Jayapura District Government—specifically the Health Office, the Community and Village Empowerment Office (DPMK), the Legal Division, and the Village Governments.

This milestone is hoped not to stop at just two villages, but to serve as a model for other villages across Jayapura District. Consequently, more villages are expected to issue policies or Village Regulations (Peraturan Kampung) and form Malaria Elimination Task Forces. This step will trigger a joint movement at the village level to support the acceleration of malaria elimination toward a malaria-free Jayapura District.

This program was organized by Malaria Perdhaki with funding support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.