West Papua Update

“Jamer” doctor who loves Papua

Dr Onny Suwardi Redjo MPH still remembers the shock on young doctors’ faces when they heard Papua still had frambusia’s sufferers. “Is it true frambusia still exist?” said Suwardi copying question from some of the new doctors.

Frambusia is not as severe as HIV/AIDS. It is easily treated with routine treatment. “This illness still exists because sanitation and health system in Papua are lacking,” said the Disease Prevention Head of Papua Province year 2000-2006. Read more…

HIV/Aids awareness drive in Indonesian province of Papua

RNZI Posted at 17:45 on 10 February, 2008 UTC

The AIDS Prevention Commission in Indonesia’s Papua Province is running a
Papua condom week to combat the sharp rise in HIV/AIDS cases there.
The campaign, which ends this weekend, aims to provide HIV/AIDS education.
The main message is to practice safe sex in order to prevent sexually
transmitted disease or STDs .
The level of HIV/AIDS infection in Papua rapidly rose during 2007.
Papua Health Institute recorded 1,964 positive HIV cases as well as 1,470
AIDS cases.

Of most concern is that the highest rate of infection occurs in the age
group, 15-39 year olds.

The Papua Health Institute said this phenomenon is closely linked to a lack
of community awareness of these issues.