Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia remains the second-highest in Asia for malaria cases, despite a decrease of about 25,000 cases last year, totaling 418,546 cases in 2023 compared to 443,530 in 2022, an official said on Thursday (25/4/2024).

India and Indonesia contribute to 94% of malaria deaths in the World Health Organization (WHP)’s southeastern Asia region, according to antaranews.com.

The Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi,  confirmed that Indonesia has seen a rise in cases since 2015, recording 217,025 cases at that time. 

Enhanced surveillance and detection efforts, including approximately 3 million tests in 2023, have contributed to this increase, particularly in high-endemic areas, he said.

Director Imran admitted persisting challenges, especially in remote areas, with Papua and Nusa Tenggara having the highest cases.

Efforts are underway to accelerate case reduction, notably in Papua, prioritizing interventions to achieve elimination targets across all districts and cities, he said.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)