23 Apr 2014

A Papua regency aims to be malaria free in 4 years

6:40 pm on 23 April 2014

The local government in Mimika regency in Indonesia's Papua wants the region malaria free by 2018, bringing forward its orginal plan by ten years.

The Jakarta Post reports the acting Mimika regent, Ausilius You, saying the mining giant, Freeport and central and local government health officials need to discuss how they can achieve this.

The Antara news agency quotes him saying he wants Mimika to be malaria free before the 2020 National Games are held in the province.

Currently Mimika regency has the second highest parasite index in Indonesia and this needs to be drastically cut for it to be declared malaria free.