Leadership commitment critical at all levels for malaria elimination in the region.

The Leaders’ Envoy of Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA), Dr Nafsiah Mboi, has been working with the Indonesia Ministry of Health to deliver Workshops for acceleration of malaria elimination in the vital Eastern Provinces of Indonesia.

Why is focus on the eastern part of the country important?

The disease burden and malaria parasite distribution in Indonesia is geographically asymmetrical: 80% of reported cases between 2005 and 2014 were found in the eastern provinces, particularly Papua, Western Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and North Maluku provinces.

Who is involved?

The Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Office of Papua, APLMA and Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) are working together to advocate for acceleration of malaria elimination across the Province of Papua.

Shifting malaria elimination goal to 2025

The target date for malaria elimination was initially set as 2030. Following the May 2017 workshop, an earlier date of 2025 and corresponding action plan were agreed and adopted.

The workshop demonstrated strong commitment of leadership from provincial to district level leaders, as well as active participation of national multisectoral partners (e.g. National Planning Board, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Village Development). The provincial and district leaders assured ongoing work on the elimination agenda, while the multisectoral participants added useful information about resources available for provincial, district and village level malaria elimination activities.