Wednesday, 22 October 2025 | 7:30 PM WIT

Author: Calvin Eluis Erari | Editor: Lidya Salmah

TRIBUN-PAPUATENGAH.COM, NABIRE — Drone technology innovation is set to take to the skies of Mimika Regency, Central Papua, as part of efforts to curb malaria outbreaks that continue to threaten the Central Highlands of Papua.

In relation to this initiative, the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), in collaboration with the Mimika Regency Health Office and the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK), organized a drone utilization training program from 20–24 October 2025 in Timika, Mimika, aimed at mapping the habitats of Anopheles mosquitoes.

The Chair of the SHIELD PAPUA initiative, Dr. Iqbal Elyazar, explained that the drones are equipped with high‑resolution aerial imagery, making it easier to identify water bodies and potential breeding sites of malaria‑carrying mosquitoes.

The training materials included hands‑on drone flight practice, image processing, and mapping of potential mosquito habitats as a basis for vector control interventions.

“The training participants come from institutions such as OUCRU Indonesia, PERDHAKI, as well as private entities such as Freeport Indonesia through its malaria control partners,” Iqbal said in a press release received by Tribun‑PapuaTengah.com on Wednesday (22/10/2025).

Kamaludin, Head of the Communicable Disease Control Division at the Mimika Health Office, added that the drone‑based mapping results will be used as a foundation for targeted larval control interventions and insecticide spraying.

Meanwhile, Firdy Permana, Public Health and Malaria Control Manager at PT Freeport Indonesia, emphasized that although the technology is available, its effectiveness depends on proper field implementation and the sustainability of interventions.

This innovation is expected to accelerate Mimika’s progress toward malaria pre‑elimination, as targeted by the local government. (*)

Source: https://papuatengah.tribunnews.com/mimika/3336/drone-sateliit-terbang-di-atas-langit-mimika-inovasi-pengendalian-malaria