The Malady of Papua

The deaths of 72 people in the Asmat Regency has highlighted health problems in the Province of Papua. As it turns out, the tens of trillions of rupiah budgeted by the central government each year has not improved the level of health of residents in that region. Cases of infant malnutrition occur every year. The patient mortality rate is five times higher than the national average. Tempo investigated the state of health services in a number of other regencies in Papua starting in August last year, and found many abuses which have been said to have occurred over the years. This investigation was conducted through the cooperation among Tempo magazine, the Tempo Institute, and Free Press Unlimited.

February 12, 2018

Young coconut shell was on the lunch menu of Fransisca Patatcot and her son on Saturday two weeks ago. Sitting next to each other on the wooden porch of the Santo Petrus Paulus Church, Pulau Tiga District, Asmat Regency, Papua, they snacked on the coconut shell. When the coconut shell was finished, she began eating the husk. "The important thing is to feel full," said the 45-year-old woman to Tempo, while carrying her emaciated-looking two-year-old

...

More Articles