VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Deadly measles and malnutrition outbreak occurred in Asmat Regency, Papua, on January 15, 2018. The status of extraordinary incidence was declared over on February 6. Dompet Dhuafa in cooperation with Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) and Indonesian Child Protection Agency LPAI initiated Food Bank for Asmat program to improve community environment in Asmat regency. Secretary General of the Indonesian Child Protection Agency Henny Rusmiyati in a Press Conference on Response to Asmat at the Philanthropy Building, South Jakarta, Thursday (15/2) stated that in addition to health assistance, Asmat residents also need education assistance in order to maintain their health independently.

"As we know even though the outbreak has been revoked, it is not necessarily that all the assistance to the people there is gone. From what we have known that the most important thing there is not just to give something for them to eat after it is done because it is related to the condition of malnutrition, but how we see the root cause, namely how to arouse the people’s awareness on education, how to maintain health. Through education, they should have been able to use their fertile land into something useful to them," Henny Rusmiati said.

Meanwhile, Health General Manager of Dompet Dhuafa dr. Rosita Rifa'i explained that in Food Bank for Asmat program there will be health intervention, education of food supply and management and supervision kampong or healthy kampong. (VOI/RIFAI/AHM)