Jakarta, 21 Oktober 2026 - OUCRU Indonesia welcomed a delegation from Wellcome to the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (FKUI), for a visit aimed at strengthening dialogue on research, partnerships, and public health impact in Indonesia.

As part of the programme, Dr Iqbal Elyazar, Head of Geospatial Epidemiology at OUCRU Indonesia, delivered a presentation on tackling the burden of malaria, tuberculosis, and leprosy. His presentation highlighted the importance of evidence-based research in addressing infectious disease challenges in Indonesia, particularly in regions where geographical and health system barriers continue to affect access to healthcare.

Malaria research in Papua was further highlighted during the science bazaar through a poster presentation featuring SHIELD PAPUA, a research programme supporting malaria elimination efforts in the region. The poster was presented by Yudha A. Perlambang on behalf of Dr Lenny Ekawati, who was conducting fieldwork for the OPERA TIMIKA study in Papua at the time of the visit.

SHIELD PAPUA brings together epidemiological, geospatial, sociocultural, and health systems approaches to better understand malaria transmission, identify barriers to prevention and treatment, and develop locally appropriate interventions. One of its ongoing research initiatives, OPERA TIMIKA, examines the feasibility and acceptability of spatial emanators as an additional malaria vector control intervention in Mimika, Central Papua.

Together, Dr Iqbal's presentation and the SHIELD PAPUA poster showcased OUCRU Indonesia's commitment to generating scientific evidence that responds to local health challenges and supports malaria control and elimination efforts in Papua.

The Wellcome visit also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of research partnerships and translating scientific findings into practical interventions and public health policies in Indonesia.