67 Children Died from Measles and Malnutrition Outbreak in Asmat District

67 Children Died from Measles and Malnutrition Outbreak in Asmat District

At least sixty-seven children died from epidemics of measles and malnutrition that occurred in Asmat District, Papua.

JAKARTA -
A number of efforts have been made to deal with the epidemic of measles and malnutrition in Asmat District, Papua. Medical teams from both the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Armed Forces and the Police continue to arrive to assist medical teams in the region.

Asmat District Government continues to contribute additional food aid to 23 districts covering 224 villages. According to Head of Public Health of Asmat District Health Office, Steven Langi told VOA that the number of victims due to measles and malnutrition in Asmat regency, Papua continues to grow.

According to him, the data collection of four teams integrated measles and malnutrition control recorded since last September there were 524 victims due to epidemic of measles and malnutrition. Sixty-seven children have died from measles and malnutrition. They are from the districts of Fayit, Aswi and Pulau Tiga.

The team will further evaluate the cause of the outbreak. Given the large number of casualties, the reach of the integrated teams previously centered in seven districts is now expanded to reach 23 districts to prevent outbreaks of bad measles and malnutrition.

"Immunization has been going on, actually every month have been immunized so we will then assess what other factors that cause measles. While the first focus on treatment," said Steven.

Head of Bureau of Communications and Public Service of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi said the need for special handling in Asmat District, Papua because of malnutrition and measles has plague in the area.

The health worker sent to Asmat will be divided into two teams. The first team is the primary health care team that will be sent to the Sawa Erma District, Kolf Branza and Pulau Tiga. While the second team is a health care team that will be sent to the Regional General Hospital Agats. They will do the treatment to overcome health problems.

"We will strengthen the health service team there by sending health workers because of the fact that we have troops like this we are from the Ministry of Health We will send 11 specialists, then 4 general practitioners of course there is also a general practitioner we only backing up, adding strength.There are three nurses then two anesthetic stylists, nutritionist with 19 nutritionists, from environmental health, surveillance.All elements of the profession will join there, "said Oscar.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla regretted the outbreak of measles and malnutrition that hit the District of Asmat, Papua Province.

"Malnutrition occurs, among other things, poverty, natural resources, customs issues so many things that must be changed.Lifestyle of the people is changed, poverty is lowered If we see the APBD Papua is high, the highest in Indonesia than the number of people, so it should be given sufficient budget for this in each region, "said Jusuf Kalla.

67 Children Meningal Due to Outbreaks of Measles and Malnutrition in Asmat District
67 Children Meningal Due to Outbreaks of Measles and Malnutrition in Asmat District

Secretary General of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Nusantara (AMAN) Rukka Sombolinggi assessed the incidents that occurred in Asmat District proves that public facilities, especially health services, have not reached the area well.

In Papua, the current government says Rukka is so massively committed to infrastructure development and subordinating basic community needs such as health services, education services that are needed by the community.

Rukka said indigenous peoples such as Asmat and other tribes have not received any attention from the government. Even AMAN identifies several endangered tribes such as Orang Rimba in Jambi, Talang Mamak people in Sumatra, Punan Dayak tribe in Kalimantan, Naulu tribe in Maluku and tribes in Papua. This added vulnerability is caused by systemic problems.

"So systemic problems, firstly the spoils of indigenous territories and resources, are related mostly to the presence of companies extracting resources and destroying the nature they live in, driving them out of their customary territory.The Orang Rimba that once occurred a two-year plague then not handled properly, "complained Rukka.

Ministry of Health in cooperation with TNI and Polda Papua to overcome Malnutrition (KLB) malnutrition and measles. Minister