Photo: Manager of Asiki Clinic, Dr. Firman (white coat) conducting health examination on one of the patients diagnosed with malaria in Boven Digoel, Papua.
BOVEN DIGOEL, July 28, 2021 – Asiki Clinic, a modern health facility built and managed by Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group, is committed to continuing to play an active role in addressing health issues in the Eastern Indonesia, including malaria cases. This social responsibility is mainly focused in Boven Digoel, which is part of TSE Group operational area.
Asiki Clinic is a part of TSE Group’s Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) program in the health sector. Located in Asiki Village, Boven Digoel, Papua, Asiki Clinic operates for 24 hours. Not only accepting visits from patients on site, the doctors and medical personnel often provide health counseling through radio and schools, even to remote villages.
Various ways have been carried out to reduce the spread of malaria. One of them is by highly encouraging the use of mosquito nets. The ones containing insecticides that can kill mosquitos instantly were provided for free.
Asiki Clinic recorded that since 2010 until now, there have been 15,000 sheets of mosquito nets being distributed to the surrounding community. 1,300 of them were provided last year.
Asiki Clinic also continues to carry out fogging program while simultaneously providing education and socialization to prevent an increase in malaria cases. This activitiy is held in collaboration with other health facilities, including community health centers (puskesmas) in Boven Digoel area.
The Manager of Asiki Clinic, Dr. Firman Jayawijaya, explained that the series of programs have brought out significant results. He saw a decrease in the number of malaria cases compared to the time when he first joined the Korindo Group’s health service in 2005. At that time, Dr. Firman struggled each week to deal with malaria cases, which often resulted in death.
Dr. Firman noted that in 2010, there were no deaths from malaria. There were only 24 cases of malaria in 2019 and this number decreased drastically compared to the previous two years, which could reach 60 people and 79 people, respectively.
The downward trend continues to occur. The latest data revealed by Dr. Firman showed that the number of malaria cases treated by Asiki Clinic in 2020 was around 25 cases. Meanwhile, until the middle of this year, around eight people were infected with malaria.
Most of these cases were either imported or originated outside TSE Group operational area, such as those who happen to visit their relatives at the company. Some of them experienced complaints and after going through examination at Asiki Clinic, they were confirmed to have malaria. That means, according to Dr. Firman, not all recorded malaria cases came from the company area.
With the consistent approach of Asiki Clinic’s rapid prevention and treatment program, the positive trend continues. “Currently, there are no malaria cases in all clinics in Asiki Clinic operational area,” Dr. Firman said.
Although a downward trend continues to be seen, Dr. Firman ensured that Asiki Clinic was not carried away by that. The doctors and the medical personnel will keep on providing education, counseling, and various assistance to the local residents. Advanced equipment as the ones available in hospitals in big cities and the professional human resources are already prepared to serve the need for malaria treatment. (*)
Source : papua.antaranews.com
