Medical workers continue their search for children suffering from measles and malnutrition in villages in Asmat.
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Kompas/Wisnu Widiantoro
A mother gives milk to her child, who is being treated at Agats General Hospital in Asmat regency, Papua, and was placed in the Indonesian Christian Church Hall in Papua, Klasis Asmat, on Sunday (21/1). As of Sunday night, 43 children suffering from malnutrition were being treated at the hall.
AGATS, KOMPAS – Medical workers from a number of agencies continue their search for children suffering from measles and malnutrition in villages in Asmat village, Papua. Treatment and food aid are being provided on the spot.
According to Kompas’s monitoring on Sunday in Kampung Kapi, Pulau Tiga district, health personnel examined 26 children. A day earlier, more than 100 people were examined at Kapi.
Apart from Kapi village, patients also come from Kampung Aou, As and Atat villages in Pulau Tiga district.
On Saturday evening, 15 children were taken to Agats Regency General Hospital, about three hours from Kapi. According to plans, two other children suffering from anemia and malnutrition will be taken this Monday to Agats hospital. In addition to children, a number of pregnant women and sick adults were also examined and treated.
Kapi, As and Atat villages have had the highest number of deaths due to measles and malnutrition in Asmat. Of the 68 people who have died from September 2017 through Sunday morning, 39 people came from the three villages.
Kapi village residents welcomed the arrival of the health workers. Because of the lack of medical personnel, many people could be saved. None of the children have been immunized.
The health teams that visited a number of locations included representatives of the Health Ministry, the Social Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the police and the Agats diocese. They provided treatment and food aid.
Medical devices
Agats general hospital needs more medical equipment to anticipate the increase of malnutrition and measles patients evacuated from Asmat district. The class D hospital does not have enough mattresses or oxygen.
Based on data from the Integrated Health Task Force, the TNI evacuated on Sunday five malnourished children under 5 to Agats, the capital of Asmat. The five children came from three districts: Safan (three children), Unirsarau (one child), and Sawa Erma (one child).
In total, 85 children under 5 have been evacuated since Jan. 8 to Agats because of measles and malnutrition.
Forty patients were treated at Agats hospital and 45 patients were treated on the premises of the Klasis Asmat Indonesian Protestant church.
Outbreaks of measles and malnutrition have been found in 11 of the 23 Asmat districts. The 11 districts are Swator, Aswi, Akat, Fayit, Pulau Tiga, Kolf Braza, Jetsy, Kasuari Beach, Safan, Unirsarau and Siret.
The 45 children who were treated at Klasis Asmat church, the majority of who are under 5, are sleeping only on mats provided by the Social Affairs Ministry. "We have no more mattresses for these 45 children. All mattresses at hospitals are already in use in emergency rooms, the halls, wards and some rooms," said Agats hospital director Riechard Mirino.
He said the hospital had a shortage of oxygen that was needed by patients suffering measles, malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis and pneumonia. "We have requested 50 oxygen tanks to the Mimika Health Office," Riechard said.
In addition to providing treatment, the medical staff also informed the people about pursuing a healthy lifestyle. "The people’s habit of drinking raw water must be stopped immediately," said Dr Bambang OFM from the Agus diocese’s emergency medical team.
Meanwhile, the Surabaya administration has set aside Rp 200 million from its budget as financial aid for the Asmat district government. However, the fund has not yet been transferred because the Surabaya administration has not received the bank account number for the Asmat government. "We are waiting for an official answer (from Asmat district). I cannot transfer it if there is no clarity, because we need the transfer receipt," Surbaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said in Surabaya.
The Surabaya government will also send 28 bags of clothing to flood victims in Gorontalo regency, Gorontalo province. The aid comprises blankets, children’s clothes, school uniforms, mats, underwear, diapers, sarongs and medicines.
