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Merauke, June 25–26, 2025 – Efforts to prevent stunting and malaria continue to be strengthened in remote areas of South Papua. PT Bio Inti Agrindo (PT BIA), in collaboration with the Merauke District Health Office and the Gapai Harapan Papua Foundation, held a two-days’ Workshop on Integrated Stunting and Malaria Prevention and Management in Muting Village, Muting District, Merauke Regency.

This initiative is part of PT BIA’s Environment Conservation and Community Development Program (ECCDP), which provides conservation-based incentives to communities that sustainably manage their environment. The program focuses on eight villages surrounding the Lake Bian Wildlife Reserve area: Selil, Kindiki, Muting, Boha, Pachas, Waan, Kolam, and Selauw.

Held at the Multipurpose Hall (Catholic Church) in Muting, the event gathered around 45 participants, including health cadres from the eight villages, medical personnel from Muting Community Health Centre (Puskesmas), village and district representatives, as well as other development partners.

The workshop aimed to build the capacity of posyandu cadres and healthcare workers in detecting and addressing stunting, which is often linked to malaria infection, hygiene practices, and environmental conditions. The sessions covered various topics, including an introduction to infectious diseases (malaria and diarrhea), practical use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT), nutrition education, and preparation of complementary feeding (MPASI) using local food ingredients.

The event was officially opened by Mr. Rongkong Palembangan, S.E., a representative of the Muting District Office, followed by remarks from Mr. Yohanes Kondomo, Head of Muting Village, and Bae Gyutae, Ph.D. representing PT BIA. The Merauke District Health Office is currently piloting an integrated malaria-stunting approach in Muting, aiming to accelerate the elimination of both diseases and enhance the skills of local health cadres.

On the second day, health cadres participated in an intensive training session led by the Muting Community Health Center and the District Health Office. Topics included anthropometric measurements (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, and head circumference), preparation of nutritious complementary foods, and education on clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS) as well as environmental health.

The event culminated in the “Muting Declaration: Healthy Villages, Smart Children, Empowered Health Centres and Cadres”, underscoring a shared commitment to implement sustainable health programs. PT BIA also committed to assigning three community health facilitators to the Gapai Harapan Papua Foundation as a follow-up support action.

Beyond the workshop, health assessments were conducted in Waan Village (June 27, 2025) and Kolam Village (June 28, 2025), covering prenatal check-ups, PHBS data collection, and health education for elementary school students. PT BIA distributed school bags and book packages as part of its ongoing support for children's education in the region.

Through this collaboration with the District Health Office and local partners, PT BIA aims to create long-term impact in reducing stunting rates and improving the quality of life for communities in and around the Lake Bian Wildlife Reserve conservation area.