Tambrauw temporarily closes health services following attack incident

Sorong (ANTARA) - The Tambrauw District Health Office in Southwest Papua has temporarily closed all health facility services following an attack by unidentified individuals on the road between Bamusbama and Fef Districts on 16 March 2026. Acting Head of the Tambrauw Health Office, Bernadus Nso, in Sorong on Tuesday, stated that the policy was implemented to ensure the safety of health workers after the incident that resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to two others. “There were four victims, three of whom were employees of the Fef Pratama Hospital. Two people died and the other two survived,” he said. He explained that the temporary closure covers all health service facilities in the Tambrauw region, namely one hospital, 24 community health centres (PKM), and five auxiliary community health centres (pustu). “We urge all health workers, whether in hospitals, community health centres, or auxiliary centres, if they feel unsafe to immediately seek a safer place such as in the city of Sorong or Manokwari,” he said. In addition, they have also requested district heads and village heads to help safeguard and monitor the presence of health workers in their respective areas so that they can carry out their duties safely. According to Bernadus, health facility operations will reopen after guarantees of conducive security conditions from the authorities through local leaders, namely the regent, deputy regent, and regional secretary. “Health services will return to normal after official information that security conditions in Tambrauw are conducive,” he said. In the meantime, the public is urged to remain calm and utilise emergency health services that are still provided on a limited basis by medical personnel at their respective residences.