Nabire Regency engages cross-sector collaboration to accelerate malaria elimination

Nabire (ANTARA) - The Nabire Regency Government, in Central Papua Province, has involved cross-sector government agencies down to the village level to actively participate in accelerating malaria elimination in order to reduce transmission of the disease. Silas Elias Numobogre, head of the Nabire Regency Health Office, in Nabire on Thursday, said cross-sector support is needed so malaria management can be undertaken in an integrated manner and address the various factors driving transmission. ‘All parties in Nabire Regency must be actively involved in eliminating the increasingly rising malaria cases,’ he said. In this context, village heads up to all regional apparatus organizations (OPD) are asked to play roles appropriate to their responsibilities in supporting the malaria control programme. For example, Nabire’s Public Works Department (PU) will help repair water pooling and drainage channels that could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while the Health Quarantine Office (BKK) conducts screening at airports and seaports. Additionally, village governments are encouraged to utilise village funds to support malaria elimination programmes in their respective areas. ‘Malaria control must be tailored to each sector’s remit. Everyone has a role,’ he added. The Nabire Regency Government has issued a Circular Letter on Accelerating Malaria Elimination, signed by Regent Mesak Magai on 19 February 2026. The Regent’s Circular Letter No. 400.7.9.1/252/Sek of 2026 on Accelerating Malaria Elimination states the obligation of all OPD, district governments, the PKK Steering Team, and village heads to actively participate in malaria control in their respective areas. The circular instructs every element of government to take a role through environmental interventions, community education, and strengthening health service delivery. Alfred Lambey, head of the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases (P2P) Section at the Nabire Health Office, said the circular provides a legal basis for all sectors to move together in accelerating malaria elimination. ‘With this circular, all sectors can undertake environmental interventions and health promotion in villages about the dangers of malaria,’ he said. He added that cooperation with health service facilities (fasyankes) in each region is key to the programme’s success, including the use of village funds for priority health programmes. Novi, the person in charge of the Malaria Programme at the Nabire Health Office, stressed that malaria directly concerns the safety of future generations. In 2025, 790 babies and toddlers contracted malaria and 108 cases occurred among pregnant women. ‘Malaria is very dangerous, especially for pregnant women and young children. The disease can cause severe anaemia, bleeding during delivery, miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight babies,’ he said. Therefore, local government hopes that cross-sector collaboration and active community involvement can expedite malaria elimination while protecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, babies, toddlers, and the elderly.