REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIMIKA -- The Indonesian military (TNI) has considered the deployment of KRI Yos Sudarso as a hospital ship to help tackle measles epidemic and malnutrition in Asmat district of Papua. The Military Chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said here on Thursday that despite the presence of the current joint team of Integrated Health Task Force that involved the military, the police, Health Ministry, local administrations, and other elements of the society, the deployment of the navy vessel to Asmat would still be needed for social and health service.

"We have planned to deploy KRI Yos Sudarso here to support the social and health services," Hadi noted.

TNI Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto holds a boy that suffered malnutrition during his visit to Asmat, Papua. The Asmat tribe was hit by measles outbreak and malnutrition.

During his visit to Asmat on Thursday, the military chief, aboard an aircraft from Mozes Kilangin airport, monitored the region's geographical condition, with its huge rivers. "The view from the air shows the river's mouth in Asmat to be big enough for the military hospital ship to pass through," he continued.

Tjahjanto revealed that he would discuss its plan with other institutions, especially on the provision of facility and information technology in the remote area.

Military personnels assigned in the Task Force to Tackle Measles Outbreak and Malnutrition in Asmat arrives at Kampong Bayiwpinam, Akat District, Asmat, Papua, on Friday (Jan 26).

"If necessary, we could install VSAT in some locations to serve as a small earth station for the TNI to ease information access from the remote area to the central government. I will ask the Communication and Informatics Ministry to provide solar power-based transceiver station (BTS)," he said.

The Military Chief has ordered the integrated health task force to continue its services in Asmat until the next 270 days. Hadi explained that the team has treated more than 600 children, who suffered from measles and malnutrition, during its humanitarian operation in Asmat. It has given measles vaccine for 13,336 villagers, mostly toddlers, in 224 villages. The number of patients in Asmat hospital has dwindled.

Measles epidemic and malnutrition that hit Asmat since September 2017 have killed 71 children in the region.

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