The largest town in the Nduga Regency, Kenyam, has been grappling with a severe health-service disruption since 29 November 2023. The Nduga Regional General Hospital (RSUD) and the Kenyam Health Centre (Puskesmas) have ceased operations due to the non-payment of health workers’ honorarium for five months, from July to November 2023. Officials attached an announcement at the entrance door of Puskesmas Nduga (see photo on top, source: Suara Papua), declaring that the Puskesmas is temporarily closed for an uncertain period due to lack of medication. The dire situation has left the local community struggling to access medical treatment, exacerbating an already challenging environment. Nduga remains a hotspot of armed conflict as of today, with an estimated 57.000 persons being internally displaced since December 2018.
The closure of both the RSUD and the Puskesmas in Nduga has broader implications for public health, especially for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nduga. The absence of health services not only hampers immediate access to medical care but also poses long-term risks, potentially leading to a decline in life quality, increased mortality rates, and the spread of diseases. Patients with chronic conditions face heightened vulnerabilities as they are unable to access essential medicines and medical services.
Human rights defenders in Nduga witness the poor state of public services in Nduga and have called for immediate action. They urge the Ministry of Health to assess the health services in the Papua Pegunungan Province, emphasizing the critical impact on mortality rates and the well-being of patients and health workers. Health access is crucial, given the ongoing conflict situation in Nduga. They also urged the regional government to address the needs of the community, particularly IDPs, by ensuring the availability of medical supplies and timely payment of health workers in Nduga.
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Kenyam (-4.528002342945837, 138.2949088709366)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Pegunungan Province, Nduga Regency
total number of victims: dozens
period of incident: 29.11.2023
perpetrator: government
perpetrator details: Ministry of Health
Issues: indigenous peoples, right to health, discrimination
Sources: https://suarapapua.com/2023/12/08/puskesmas-dan-rsud-nduga-tak-beroperasi-nakes-dan-pasien-terancam/ Further HRM News:
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| dozens | unknown | unknown | unknown | indigenous | health |
