Carole Reckinger

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HIV AIDS in Papua | Access to healthcare

In rural areas, health care services are few and far between. The majority of health care staff in the available centres are migrants from other parts of Indonesia who do not speak the local languages and have little affinities for indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. Most institutions, in particular the Ministry of Health, are still run by Indonesian migrants to the province. Many Papuans view government health care services, which remain riddled with corruption, a lack of proper follow-up procedures and poor training for the staff, as part of the Indonesian colonial machinery. Rumours are ripe that HIV was introduced in order to decimate the indigenous population. Trust towards government run hospitals is low and many will only go there as a last resort.

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Carole Reckinger
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Positive is Negative: HIV/AIDS in Papua
In rural areas, health care services are few and far between. The majority of health care staff in the available centres are migrants from other parts of Indonesia who do not speak the local languages and have little affinities for indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. Most institutions, in particular the Ministry of Health, are still run by Indonesian migrants to the province. Many Papuans view government health care services, which remain riddled with corruption, a lack of proper follow-up procedures and poor training for the staff, as part of the Indonesian colonial machinery. Rumours are ripe that HIV was introduced in order to decimate the indigenous population. Trust towards government run hospitals is low and many will only go there as a last resort.