Alexander Loen, Jayapura (PINA) – More than 90% of Indonesia's malaria cases are concentrated in Papua, underscoring the region as the country's most critical hotspot for infectious diseases, Vice Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said Tuesday.
Speaking at a technical coordination meeting on accelerating the elimination of infectious diseases, Octavianus said Papua's malaria burden far exceeds that of other regions, each contributing less than 10% of national cases.
"Malaria cases in Papua account for more than 90 percent. This is something we must resolve together urgently," he said.
Beyond malaria, Papua also faces disproportionately high rates of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS relative to its population of about 5 million. The region contributes roughly 4% of Indonesia's TB cases and 12% of HIV/AIDS cases.
Octavianus said addressing the issue requires an integrated approach, including strengthening healthcare systems and improving infection control measures. He emphasized that TB patients should be treated in isolation rooms to prevent transmission.
He also highlighted concerns over leprosy in Jayapura, which ranks among the five areas with the highest number of cases nationwide, noting the added risk of its spread in urban settings.
Meanwhile, Prima Yosephine, director of communicable diseases at the Health Ministry, said the meeting was convened in response to Papua's significant contribution to the national disease burden.
She cited geographic challenges, limited healthcare access and uneven distribution of medical personnel as key obstacles.
The meeting brought together representatives from six provinces and 14 high-burden districts, along with government agencies, development partners and private sector stakeholders. Officials aim to accelerate disease elimination efforts and strengthen cross-sector coordination ahead of Indonesia's 2030 target.