13 Apr 2017

Lack of resources hampers disease control in Papua

7:38 pm on 13 April 2017

A shortage of healthcare facilities and medical practitioners in Indonesia's Papua province is hampering efforts to combat whooping cough and HIV/AIDS.

A 3d rendered illustration of HIV.

A 3d rendered illustration of HIV. Photo: 123rf

The Jakarta Post newspaper reported that despite being treatable illnesses, whooping cough, or pertussis, and HIV/AIDS had developed into epidemics in the province because of the lack of essential medicines.

The paper said Papua Health Agency data showed that as of June 2016, there were 25,349 HIV/AIDS cases in 28 regencies and in Jayapura city.

It said whooping cough had spread quickly in Papua and there were claims local authorities had neglected their responsibilities to fully guarantee people's right to health.

In one district, pertussis killed 54 children in a four month period to January 2016.

A Papua health advocacy group, SKPKC Fransiskan, confirmed pertussis and HIV/AIDS had taken many lives because people were not getting proper treatment.