Fighting Malaria Door-to-Door in Papua Province

Malaria, transmitted through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, remains a severe public health threat in Papua Province, which continues to bear a heavy disease burden.

To expand the scope of malaria control across the province, the Papua Provincial Health Office intensified its screening coverage, reaching 1,102,956 people by July 2026—an increase of 152,101 screenings compared to the same period in the previous year. This surge in case detection has been driven by the active involvement of community health cadres, public health centers (puskesmas), clinics, and hospitals.

Supported by the Global Fund, the TOKEN strategy (Temukan, Obati, dan Kendalikan—Find, Treat, and Control) has been rolled out door-to-door across seven regencies and cities. In addition, the Health Office has distributed insecticide-treated bed nets and promoted community-led mosquito breeding site eradication programs.

This high rate of transmission is reflected in Jayapura City, a densely populated economic hub, which recorded 70,990 positive cases out of 431,629 screenings in 2025.

Although full-year data for 2026 has not yet been finalized, provisional data collected at the village and neighborhood levels has already exceeded 34,000 cases, according to the Head of the Infectious Disease Section at the Jayapura City Health Office, Ns. Yusnita Pabeno, S.Kep., M.Kep., as quoted by Cenderawasih PosThe highest provisional case count was recorded in Ardipura Ward with 4,183 cases, followed by Yoka (3,302), Imbi (3,163), Hedam (2,688), and Entrop (2,150).

To curb transmission, theEarly Diagnosis and Prompt Treatment(EDPT) strategy is being strictly enforced. Under EDPT, any resident experiencing high fever or chills is urged to undergo microscopic examination or a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) within less than 24 hours and is strictly advised against taking antimalarial medication without a confirmed diagnosis. If the initial test result is negative but symptoms persist, re-testing is mandatory within 24 to 48 hours.

Early testing is crucial to protect vulnerable groups, including infants, young children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. In pregnant women, malaria increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and maternal death. In children, the infection can cause high fevers exceeding 40°C, seizures, severe anemia, and permanent brain damage.

"Malaria can be treated, but its impact on a child's brain development cannot be cured or reversed. We can still buy malaria medication, but the income lost due to illness can never be recovered," Yusnita emphasized.