Southwest Papua Government and Australia Collaborate on Human Resource Development Through Kita Sehat Programme

Wakil Gubernur Papua Barat Daya Ahmad Nausrau stated in Sorong on Thursday that human development is a top priority for the regional government, and the quality of human resources is heavily influenced by access to proper health services. “Health and education are the two main foundations of human development. If the community is healthy and has access to good health services, they will be able to learn, work, and contribute optimally to regional development,” he said. According to him, the Kita Sehat Programme represents a joint commitment between the Indonesian and Australian governments to support sustainable transformation of the health sector, especially in priority development areas. “As a new province, Southwest Papua still faces many challenges in developing basic services. Therefore, the presence of the Kita Sehat Programme is a very valuable opportunity to accelerate the strengthening of the health system and improve the quality of life of the community,” he stated. Ahmad explained that the Kita Sehat Programme has four main focuses: strengthening primary health services, improving access to and quality of health services, developing human resources and the health of humans and animals, and strengthening health security systems. He also emphasised the importance of the One Health approach, which integrates human health, animal health, and environmental health as a unified whole in facing various health challenges. “Current health threats no longer stand alone. Diseases in humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected. Therefore, a collaborative approach like One Health is crucial to building a resilient health system,” he said. Ahmad expressed hope that the benefits of the Kita Sehat Programme will be felt not only in urban centres but also reach villages, districts, and remote areas that still require attention in health services.