Health Ministry pushes for handling of AIDS, TB, and malaria in Papua Pegunungan
Wamena (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) through the Association of Health Offices (Adinkes) across Indonesia is encouraging the handling of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, or ATM, in Papua Pegunungan.
Member of the Executive Board of Adinkes across Indonesia from Kemenkes RI, Dr Ferdinan J Laihad, in a written statement in Wamena on Thursday, said that this ATM activity is being carried out so that these diseases can be controlled and integrated into the regional planning documents.
“The aim is for ATM-related programmes between the centre and regions to be synchronised to achieve the goal of eliminating ATM,” he said.
According to him, controlling ATM diseases cannot be handled by health offices alone, but requires the role of cross-sectors both at the central and regional levels as well as the community.
“Support from cross-sectors of government and non-government institutions as well as the community can control ATM diseases in the Papua Pegunungan region,” he stated.
He mentioned that in this handling, his side is focusing on six areas in Papua Pegunungan that have previously received support from the Global Fund organisation or global funding for the eradication of AIDS, TB, and malaria worldwide.
“This initiative can actually be developed in handling ATM diseases in regencies/cities throughout Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Global Fund currently focuses planning and handling of this disease only on six regencies that are monitored,” he said.
He added that the six priority areas in Papua Pegunungan are Jayawijaya Regency, Nduga, Yahukimo, Central Mamberamo, Yalimo, and Pegunungan Bintang.
“We hope that ATM diseases in Papua Pegunungan, especially in Papua Pegunungan, can be properly handled so that the community can live peacefully and prosperously,” he stated.
He acknowledged that there is no change in the intervention loci related to handling ATM diseases in Papua Pegunungan.
“However, there are security issues so the method has changed somewhat to avoid unnecessary casualties by combining implementations in certain places, with the approval of the central Adinkes,” he said.