Eleven residents were referred to the general hospital in Agats, Asmat regency, Papua, on Monday and Tuesday.
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Kompas/P Raditya Mahendra Yasa
Medical workers transport an ill child from Ayam kampung on Tuesday (30/1) to receive medical treatment at Agats Regional General Hospital in Agats district, Asmat regency, Papua. Medical workers face a lack of health facilities in the regency, and often travel hours over difficult terrain to reach people in need of immediate healthcare services.
AGATS, KOMPAS – Over the last several days, a special team has been making its rounds to a number of districts in Asmat regency. The team once again discovered people suffering from malnutrition and malaria.
Eleven residents were referred to the general hospital in Agats, Asmat regency, Papua, on Monday and Tuesday. The patients suffer from various diseases such as malaria and malnutrition. Most of the cases were discovered by the special team.
The director of the Agats general hospital, Riechard Mirino, said Tuesday that four people had been taken to the hospital on Monday. Two residents were brought in by the special team from Sawa Erma district, while two others, both from Agats, had been taken to the hospital by their parents.
The other seven residents were taken to the hospital on Tuesday by the team from Unir Sirau and Fayit districts. Therefore, as of Tuesday night, 26 people had undergone treatment in Agats. Nineteen patients are being treated in Agats hospitals, while the other seven are undergoing treatment in the GPI Church Hall.
"These patients suffered from malnutrition,” said Riechard.
The patients were immediately given special treatment at the Agats hospital. The patients were then transferred to the GPI Church Hall for recovery, which often took three weeks to three months. However, some of the parents of the patients asked to go home earlier, but the hospital did not allow them to do so if their health had not improved.
"I hope the patient\'s parents do not ask to go home before the treatment process is over. People also should not be afraid when health workers want to install oxygen tubes and intravenous needles. That is to save the lives of children. There are still many people who are afraid when medical staff install an IV tube. However, we are trying to make them understand, “Riechard said.
The head of Kampung Kayerpis village in the Fayit district, Francis Farat, said that the people still needed nutritious food. In fact, residents should also change the pattern of life into a healthy lifestyle.
"As the head of the village, I have told the people. However, it is difficult for them to change. I have tried various methods to try and get them to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle but they ignore it," said Francis.
Meanwhile, aid continues to flow to Agats. One of them is from readers of the Kompas Daily through the Humanity Fund of Kompas. The second stage of aids consists of 2.2 tons or 450 boxes of drugs and bread. The aid was actually scheduled to arrive in Agats on Tuesday, but due to high waves, the aid had yet to be delivered from Timika, Mimika regency.
In Purwokerto, the local diocese raised humanitarian funds to be donated to the community in Asmat. The donations will be channeled through the Diocese of Agats and is expected to alleviate the suffering of the citizens in the health crisis.
"People are invited to be grateful for God\'s grace. The form of gratitude includes the willingness to share and help those in need. So, this is a concrete gratitude, not just prayer and praise but in real action, " the Purwokerto diocese, Father Michael Sheko Swandi M Pr, said on Tuesday.
Vice president
In Jakarta, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the granting of special autonomy funds should be evaluated thoroughly. The evaluation was also needed to check the possibility of irregularities in the use of the special autonomy funds, he added.
If there is a budget deviation, according to the Vice President Kalla, the capacity of the human resources needs to be improved. However, if there are indications of corruption, both on the special autonomy fund and other public budgets, they should be investigated. "If corruption on any funds should be investigated," he said.
According to Jusuf Kalla, the special autonomy funds are granted to Aceh, Papua and West Papua, and Yogyakarta. This special fund is intended to finance education, health and other services in the regions, which are considered special. In short, the special autonomy fund is prepared to reduce inequality in these areas. For Papua, the autonomy began on Jan. 1, 2002 in accordance with the Law Number 21/ 2001.
