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Free health care service for people in Papua. ANTARA Papua/HO-Pendam XVII - 

Several army doctors and students of the Cenderawasih University's Medical School have jointly provided residents of Koya Tengah Village in Muara Tami Sub-district, Jayapura City, with health care service.

The doctors who involved in the community service for the villagers near the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea land border area belong to the army medical corps of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force's 711/Rks Infantry Battalion.

The health care service was conducted by the army doctors and students at the village's integrated health services post (Posyandu), 2nd Lieutenant dr.I Kadek Raditya Arya, member of the army medical corps, said.

The community service has shown their care for the residents near the Indonesia-PNG border area, including the elderly people, Arya said in a press statement that ANTARA received here Sunday.

"Our medical personnel are always ready to serve those in need of health care service at our task force' post. We also visit their houses to give them free medical treatment," Arya said.

The collaboration with the Cenderawasih University's Medical School students could hopefully improve the health of residents near the Indonesia-PNG land border area, Arya said.

Meanwhile, dr Agnes S.Rahayu who represented the Cenderawasih University's Medical School said locals received such services as medical check-up, and cholesterol test during the community service program.

"The participating doctors directly respond to residents in need of health consultations," she said, adding that they showed enthusiasm in receiving the free health care service.

Rahayu thanked members of the task force's army medical corps who had served the residents living near the Indonesia-PNG border area along with the medical school students.

ANTARA reported earlier that sharing land and sea borders with PNG, Papua and West Papua's geopolitical and geostrategic positions are indubitably important for Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Over the past few years, soldiers stationed in these two eastern provinces have been facing security threats posed by armed Papuan separatist terrorist groups operating in several districts.

Amid these security-related challenges, the soldiers continue to demonstrate their care for local communities through community services.

Several personnel of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force, for instance, assist locals through community services, such as conducting voluntary teaching, serving mobile library, and implementing street clean-up programs.

During his visit to Jayapura, Papua Province, on December 1, 2021, TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa had pledged to lay emphasis on "social communication" to deal with Papuan groups that continue to threaten the lives of civilians and security personnel in Papua//ANT