Primary healthcare and preventing infectious disease

Location: Mulia and Sinak, Puncak Jaya district and West Papua

Situation:

With more than 15 million households living below the poverty line, the socioeconomic situation in Indonesia remains fragile. Access to healthcare for those living in shanty towns or the isolated populations of many islands in the archipelago, continues to be difficult. Given the growth in the AIDS epidemic and the appearance of new epidemics as a result of the massive displacement of populations fleeing threatened areas, the presence of humanitarian organisations is needed now more than ever.

Activities:

The first phase of MdM’s project, aimed at reducing the prevalence of STIs and the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Puncak Jaya district, took place between August 2004 and February 2006. This year has seen the reorientation of the programme towards primary healthcare and prevention of infectious diseases. We have also extended our activities to the neighbouring sub-district of Sinak and introduced training programmes for community health workers.

Outlook:

To develop the activities in Mulia sub district and work in Sinak sub-district with our local partner PRIMARI. In liaison with the local health authorities and community leaders, the main activities will focus on training medical staff in primary healthcare and prevention.

Project start date: August 2004

End date: December 2009