Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
WORRIED PARENTS BRAVED long queues and scorching heat in the remote Papuan jungle to get their sick babies treated this week, as the impoverished region grapples with a deadly measles-and-malnutrition outbreak.
AFP has been able to access the isolated village of Ayam, where houses sit on stilts and the only bare-bones clinic has no modern medical equipment, a few rickety beds, and overwhelmed nurses struggling to cope.
There are no doctors in the community of several hundred which has seen over two dozen cases of measles. Crisscrossed by rivers and swamps, Ayam is a 10-hour boat trip to the nearest major city Timika.
The Indonesian military has sent medical teams to Ayam and other remote locations across the vast region to prevent the spread of what they are calling an “extraordinary” outbreak.
Villagers are also suffering from other health problems like diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
“What we really need is medicine and food so our children here can be healthy again… that’s what we need now,” said 28-year-old father Yunus Komenemar, whose one-year-old son was diagnosed with measles.
Ayam is in the Asmat district where some 800 children are sick, while as many as 100 others, mostly toddlers, are feared to have died in the outbreak, which was first made public this month.
Harrowing images from affected communities showed rail-thin children lying on rickety beds with their rib cages exposed and a malnourished girl lying on the floor hooked up to an IV drip.
“I’m sad, I’m angry, and I feel pity,” said Norce, a mother of a five-year-old being treated for measles in Agats, another hard-hit community.
In Ayam, nurse Abednego Bakay said his clinic was short of almost everything, including crucial vaccines.
“The equipment here is basic and so we can only try to serve people by giving them medicine” he added.
- ‘Too late’ -
The head of the military medical teams acknowledged that Jakarta’s response was slow.
“Let’s be honest, maybe the local and national governments became aware of this (outbreak) too late,” Asep Setia Gunawan, the military’s medical task force chief, told AFP.
The conditions here are serious and that’s why we are calling this an ‘extraordinary’ outbreak.
The problems in Ayam and other villages across Papua are a combination of myriad issues including years of national and local government neglect, a lack of jobs, and logistical hurdles in boosting the quality of life for remote communities, experts said.
They warn that this crisis will be repeated without more action to pull the province out of grinding poverty and end a low-level separatist insurgency fuelled by resentment over poor conditions.
“I hope this crisis will help some people here – at least those in power – to change their minds, but if they choose business as usual another crisis will appear next year as well,” said Andreas Harsono, a Jakarta-based campaigner for Human Rights Watch.
Komenemar, whose young son was being treated for measles, worried about what will happen when the military leaves Ayam.
“The government is paying more attention, aid is coming in and there are (positive) changes, but we want it to last,” he said.
Many Papuans live a semi-nomadic existence and lack proper medical care, schools or other basic services, including access to clean water.
Angelina Sanpai, a mother of six who was waiting to get treatment for her six-month old baby’s diarrhoea, said putting food on the table is a daily struggle.
“I’m used to crying because we’ve got so little food,” she said.
My first DIL. Been on a journey with my own demons, and enjoying every day right now. Such an uplifting experience to join a couple of thousand of runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers in Navan. Crossing the Boyne in the dawn mist is a memory I’ll cherish.
@Shane Breslin: Well done Shane onwards & upwards. Just finished Dil malahide,great experience.
@Tara Murphy: Thank you Tara. Yep every day a little better.
@Shane Breslin: my first one too. First time they did it Ardee and it was a huge success for such a small town. I did it with my daughter and it was such an amazing, uplifting experience, even at that hour!
@Shane Breslin: well done shane.this is my 3rd year doing it in the Phoenix park.its an amazing cause and something to be so proud to be part of.learn to enjoy the simple things in life and love everyday day.life is so short.keep up the good work.❤
@Shane Breslin: well done Shane ..it’s all about human connection , well it’s what I’m learning ..a very special morning .
@Shane Breslin: completed another year of DIL in UCC cork, battled my own demons for many years so this walk is always special to me
@Shane Breslin: Your 600+ likes should tell you something.
Well done to all who contributed and participated
An excellent cause. Well done to all who take part in this worthy cause. There is always someone to talk too, reach out you are never never alone and nothing in life is insurmountable even though at time we may think otherwise.
Thank you Pieta House. Incredible work. Ireland should take a bow for this amazing event that’s now spread world wide.
Just back from Phoenix Park. Fantastic experience. Well done to all.
My first DIL. Been on a journey with my own demons, and talking about it, firstly in private, then even better in public, has been the most powerful drug I’ve ever known. Such an uplifting experience to join thousands of other runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers in Navan this morning. Crossing the Boyne in the dawn mist is a memory I’ll cherish forever. Well done to everyone.
So disappointed in the organisers this year who allowed/invited Varadkar to speak……a clear PR exercise for him, as a failed health minister. Otherwise well done all. Brilliant event
@Tony Kennedy: out of curiosity can you name a successful health minister? Civil service never seem to be held to account, hse is always going to have problems!
@Tony Kennedy: just for this, can we just see it as a leader TRYING to do the right thing. Why look on the negative side of things? The whole purpose of this is to bring a positive slant on a very, very serious and heart wrenching aspect of Irish life. I don’t have political affiliations, but I’m glad he walked today. It speaks to me as an acknowledgement of the problem by government.
@Tony Kennedy: well said Tony. I wonder did leo mention the 500 a year that die by suicide….or the fact that as the law stands if you dont leave a note your not included in suicide statistics your in the death by misadventure category
@Deborah Blacoe: acknowledging the problem isn’t enough without taking action on it though as Leo has the actual power to invest the resources that mental health needs. Maybe this isn’t a pr stunt but let’s see what actions he follows up with.
Great to see so many people taking part all the same.
@Deborah Blacoe: let’s see if he follows the acknowledgement with action or is this a pr social media excise. Leo has the power to give mental heath the resources that it needs. Well done to all involved.
@Tony Kennedy: Here we are with an all too rare good news story & some fool decides to try & rain all over it with his own particular brand of negativity. I was out with over 1,000 people in Donegal Town & it was fantastic.
@Shane Carroll: yes, I couldn’t agree more. Actions speak louder than words. And this part of the health service is grossly underfunded. But then again, mental health issues are generally ‘not talked’ about in Ireland. It’s an embarrassment to people. Luckily that is changing, but the attitudes of everyone have to change, including government. I would simply like to see this event as a positive step (no pun intended), not a political football. Politics are for afterwards.
@Deborah Blacoe: I didn’t comment on him walking…..he could have walked quietly and with respect like the rest of us. Charities are usually formed from government failures and now that DIL has become political it loses something special
@Adrian™: Complacency is what has allows us to have the dreadful political set up we have
@Tony Kennedy: It’s seems to me he would be damned if he did talk and damned if he didn’t. As you pointed out, this is not a political organization, but it has grown hugely in size since it’s inception. The population at large are inspired by the notion of walking from darkness into light. The fact of the Taoiseach being there and speaking at it highlights the enormity of the problem and that the government is aware of it. I am inclined to agree with you in general Tony, just on this particular one, the only thing that matters is that we are all united to try to help those who are in such a low place in their lives that they would wish to take such a drastic action. The Taoiseach speaking adds weight to the message for those people that we care, we want to help.
just back from Carrick on Suir. very emotional but beautiful morning.
Big shoutout to denjoes staff in Killarney who worked 10 hr shift and did the walk @4am this morning..
Ready for the off in Wexford !
Just back from Derry, 4th year participating. Great event. Well done to all.
An amazing experience an for a great cause. Well done all….
Don’t presume friends family are living great and happy life’s. Humans get to set in there ways if something feels strange we wont do or if goes wrong will get disheartened and won’t do again.
But do, do it wheather it a friend you had not seen since primary school or a cousin you have not seen in donkey years.
Just pop in and say hello, or if you have their number drop them a tex.
I find it hard to stomach the exact same people who are pushing abortion are so concerned about suicide, the cynic in me thinks it just something to post on social media for some.
@Murr Paul: Posting on Social Media all helps to raise awareness ..thats the point isnt it. Anyone there has contributed, got up in the middle of the night to do 5K and raise funds. The whole DIL movement has Social Media accounts yo raise awareness
@Murr Paul: Nice to see that no-one on the comments section of the #DIL2018 article to turn it into something not related to the actual purpose the event was meant to raise awareness for…..oh wait, there’s always one. Good man.
@Murr Paul: well done,your poor legs must be in bits after walking 5k at four o’clock this mornin morning. I know mine are. Oh you didn’t do it? Must have been too busy dreaming of ways to troll people who actually give a f××k.
@Dec Quinlan: well said pal.
Well done to everyone involved.
Love to be there but it was booked out
@Ciarán Doyle: it’s a walk in a public place… pretty sure you were entitled to join
@Sinead Mooney: no you can’t turn up and join because of the numbers
@Stevie Doran: pretty sure you still can..Can’t imagine that going to court . .!
@Michael: it’s an organised event and from an organisational and security standpoint, you can’t just join, plus it’s to accommodate those who have registered have contributed to the cause. I’m sure if someone is pathetic enough to bring Pieta house to court, they will have their case dismissed.
@Stevie Doran: it’s a walk in the Phoenix Park! Of course anyone can join!
@Stevie Doran: I have walked it for the last 4 years but left it too late to register this year. I went to Bray & walked it with the rest. I will make my donation today to Pieta House. You can turn up & walk with them. Nobody stops you. Everybody’s running/walking for the same reason
Darkness into light is a lovely concept where the Sun comes into view and reminds participants about the motions of Earth that make life possible and all the responses nature and our bodies make each day and each season to our parent star and to look out into the great celestial arena.
In my opinion the more people appreciate nature and what causes the changes in the day or the season the more they feel and the times when they live only in their heads become less harsh.
Try telling your “friends” “relations” tbat you suffer from ‘IT’ & watch them vanish out of your life, #sufferer
My child is transgender and had an awful expierence in pieta house..a friends daughter who has eating disorder also had a nightmare expierence in pieta house
have your say