Health workers urgently needed in Waan District to treat stomach flu

Waan District
Head of Merauke District Health Office, Dr. Nevile Muskita - JUBI/Emanuel Riberu

Merauke, Jubi – Since the tidal flood hit residential and agricultural land in the Waan District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province in mid-January 2023, vomiting and diarrhea in children have been reported.

From information gathered by Jubi, residents of Kladar Village in Waan District complained about the absence of health workers at the local health center. Many children in the village are reportedly suffering from vomiting. There have even been fatalities.

Head of the Merauke Health Office Nevile Muskita admitted that most of the health workers were in Merauke City when stomach flu started to occur in Waan. Therefore, the health office has yet to receive detailed information about the case.

“I have ordered health workers to immediately return to Waan and work immediately. I also called the head of the Waan Health Center yesterday and found out that he was in Merauke City as well. I asked him to go to Waan tomorrow,” said Nevile on Monday, January 30, 2023.

Nevile explained that the presence of health workers in Merauke City is related to the distribution of Health Operational Assistance (BOK) for health centers in 2023.

Flooding in Waan District occurs due to the rise in sea level caused by tidal surges. The disaster occurs almost every year in the Waan area.

As a result of the tidal floods, residential areas and farmlands belonging to the community are submerged in water. This year, flooding in Waan District reportedly hit six villages, including Kladar, Sabon and Tor. (*)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *