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Papuans overall health status is the lowest in Indonesia and the problems of access to and availability of services mean that a high proportion of the population remains under-served. There are many remote, outlying villages which have no access to health services, functioning health centers or community health posts.
The main contributors to the health situation are communicable and sanitation related illnesses such as malaria and tuberculosis. Papua is also subject to the emerging threat of HIV/AIDS. The pattern of HIV/AIDS that seems to be emerging, while not yet confirmed via rigorous epidemiological research, resembles the explosive transmission patterns that have ravaged some African Nations (UNDP 2005).
Challenges to providing health services to the population are huge and therefore serious budget commitments need to be made. Although health has been identified as a priority by government this has not translated into budget allocations and action on the ground.
The Health is actually deteriorating and near breaking point in many areas. Health workers that were previously voluntary and always in their villages are now not present as they are in the towns collecting salaries and waiting for planes or other transport home. In the Regency of Yahukimo since the new Kabupaten was established there has not been one program of immunization in five years. Deaths are increasing from basic illnesses that were previously easily treated by local health workers.
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