BALI – Ramses Limbong, Acting Governor of Papua, participated in the high-level 9th Asia-Pacific Leader Summit on Malaria Elimination, held in Bali on June 16–17, 2025. This forum provided a strategic platform for leaders across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen their commitment to eradicating malaria.

In his presentation, the Acting Governor shared key data, revealing that Papua Province remains the top contributor to malaria cases in Indonesia, accounting for 48.2% of the national total. Additionally, the overall malaria prevalence in Papua (Tanah Papua) is 92.9%. The most common type of malaria in Papua is Tropical Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), making up over 60% of cases, followed by Tertian Malaria and mixed infections.

“This data clearly shows that efforts to eliminate malaria in Papua require more focused and integrated interventions,” Ramses said during the discussion. He stressed that this challenge cannot be tackled alone but calls for collaborative work among regional leaders, increased community awareness, and strong cross-sector cooperation.

Moreover, the Acting Governor highlighted the importance of building regional solidarity among provinces and regencies in Papua to fight malaria sustainably and comprehensively. He urged all stakeholders—at local, national, and global levels—to enhance synergy to achieve a malaria-free Papua.

The event was also attended by Indonesia’s Minister of Health, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, international malaria experts, all Governors from Papua, several regents, and Indonesia’s 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who serves as Special Advisor to APLMA and a member of the Global Malaria Elimination Board.

This forum is expected to serve as a turning point to accelerate malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen support for Papua, which carries the highest malaria burden in Indonesia. ***