Papua Health Office focuses on early malaria detection through 'Token' Programme

The Provincial Government of Papua, through its local Health Office, is currently focusing malaria control efforts on strengthening early detection via the Find, Treat, and Control Risk Factors (Token) Programme. Acting Head of the Papua Provincial Health Office, Beeri Wopari, stated in Jayapura on Wednesday that the Token Programme is one of the local government’s main strategies to reduce malaria transmission rates in Papua. “The approach used in the Token programme emphasises finding cases as early as possible and ensuring sufferers receive prompt treatment,” he said. According to Beeri, the Token programme is implemented through several health interventions in the field, such as indoor residual spraying, mass blood surveys, capacity building for laboratory personnel, and the provision of malaria drugs at health service facilities. “We are also strengthening environmental monitoring by targeting areas that have the potential to become breeding grounds for malaria mosquitoes,” he said. He explained that everything from puddles of water to vulnerable areas will be cleaned regularly to break the disease transmission cycle. “Malaria control cannot be carried out by the health sector alone; it requires cross-sector involvement, including local government, village officials, and active community participation,” he added. He noted that by strengthening the Token Programme, his office hopes malaria elimination efforts can run more effectively, especially in endemic areas that remain a major challenge in tackling this vector-borne disease. “The local government also urges the public to actively maintain environmental cleanliness and immediately seek examination at health facilities if they experience fever symptoms indicative of malaria, in order to prevent complications and further transmission,” he said.