Stocks of pneumonia and malaria medicine are getting low, and the tuberculin liquid for TB tests has all been used up.
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Sugiyanto untuk Kompas
Aid from the Kompas Humanitarian Fund transported via helicopter arrives at the warehouse for disaster aid in Agats district, Asmat regency, Papua, on Wednesday (17/1).
AGATS, KOMPAS – As aid starts to arrive in Asmat, Agats Hospital is running out of medicine. The central government was urged to work together with the local administration to better manage local governance and utilization of the special autonomy fund.
Agats Hospital in Asmat regency, Papua, is running out of medicine for patients suffering from complications related to measles and malnutrition, including tuberculosis (TB), malaria and pneumonia, among other illnesses.
Stocks of pneumonia and malaria medicine are getting low, and the tuberculin liquid for TB tests has all been used up.
“Without the tuberculin liquid, it is difficult for us to detect TB in children suffering from malnutrition and measles,” Agats Hospital director Riechard Mirino said in Agats, the capital of Asmat, on Wednesday (17/1).
Asmat regency has been suffering from a measles and malnutrition health emergency (KLB) since October 2017. Thus far, 67 children have died from the diseases.
Currently, Agats Hospital is taking care of nine children suffering from malnutrition and another 13 suffering from measles. Five of the nine children suffering from malnutrition are suspected to be suffering from TB as well. “It is difficult for sufferers of malnutrition and measles to recover if they have untreated complications,” Riechard said.
Pediatrician Rachmanto of the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters assigned to Agats Hospital said the cases of malnutrition and measles in Asmat were different than in other regions. The children in Agats Hospital, he said, also suffered from pneumonia, malaria and TB. “It needs a longer treatment time and comprehensive therapy for the patients to recover,” Rachmanto said.
Deployed to districts
On Wednesday at 8 a.m., eight teams were deployed to 19 districts in Asmat. Each team is comprised of two or three doctors from the TNI headquarters and a medic and staff member of the Asmat regency administration.
“I believe we can finish medical treatment and vaccination in 19 districts within 10 days. People suffering from malnutrition and measles will be immediately referred to Agats Hospital,” Asmat Regent Elisa Kambu said.
In Jakarta, TNI spokesperson Col. (Inf.) Bedali Harefa said efforts to tackle measles, diphtheria and malnutrition would be carried out for a month. The first stage, which takes 10 days, will be carried out by the TNI Health Office and the Health Ministry. The second and third stages will be carried out by the health office of XVII/Cendrawasih regional military command, in cooperation with the local health office.
Meanwhile, help from the Kompas Humanitarian Fund (DKK) in the form of 200 kilograms of medicines, multivitamins, instant porridge, biscuits and milk has arrived in Agats. The plan is to send the DKK’s second aid package from Mimika to Agats on Thursday (18/1).
Asmat regency secretary Bartolomeus Bokoropces said he appreciated Kompas readers’ help via the DKK. Apart from this, aid from a number of institutions, including the Papua Police and PT Freeport Indonesia, has also arrived.
In Pomako harbor in Mimika, 11 tons of aid for Asmat were ready to be sent to Agats using the Tatamailau motorboat on Wednesday night. The aid is scheduled to arrive in Agats on Thursday morning.
Capt. Markus Helaha, the 1710 Mimika district military command logistics officer, said the aid included milk, baby food and ready-made meals from the TNI headquarters, the Health Ministry and a number of local administrations. Medicines were already sent by helicopter on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian diaspora is planning to build three schools with dorms in Papua, namely in Nabire, Merauke and Japayra. The three schools are planned to be opened in July.
“We are concerned about what has happened in Asmat. We read it on Kompas. Regardless of the various problems in Papua, we choose to help improve its education,” said Indonesian Diaspora Network-Global president Herry Utomo in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Counseling needed
In Jakarta, Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Papua Research Team member Cahyo Pamungkas said counseling from the central government has been lacking since Papua was declared a special autonomy region in 2003. Supervision on special autonomy fund utilization has never been optimal.
Cahyo said there were plenty of opportunities for funds misappropriation as the Papua administration lacked capability for good governance. Despite applying a modernized system of government, regional heads often position themselves as tribal chiefs and feel no responsibility for welfare of the people. The government budget is often seen as personal money. “There is a lot to be desired regarding the local government’s accountability,” he said.
Home Affairs Ministry Director General for regional autonomy Sumarsono said, similar to monitoring the regional budget, monitoring on special autonomy funds was carried out by the regional legislative council and the regional inspectorate. The central government assigned the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to monitor special autonomy funds.
Public Works and Public Housing Ministry National Road 18 Jayapura Management Office head Ostman Harianto Marbun said the government had yet to build road infrastructure in Asmat. As the region is dominated by swamps, road construction there needs a substantial budget.
