As the region with the highest malaria burden in Indonesia, Mimika Regency plays a pivotal role in the success of national elimination targets. Accounting for more than 30% of total national cases in 2024, a profound identification of problems and an evaluation of ongoing control activities across the regency’s work areas are urgently required.

Accelerating the decline of cases in Mimika necessitates the synchronisation of interventions between the local government, development partners, and the private sector. Mapping technical and operational challenges serves as a vital first step in formulating more effective and targeted control strategies within the heart of Papua’s malaria endemicity.

Following up on high-level commitments from Asia-Pacific leaders, the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health convened a virtual meeting titled "Situation Analysis and Identification of Malaria Problems in Mimika Regency" on Tuesday, 23 September 2025. The forum brought together the Mimika Regency Health Office, private sector representatives, non-governmental organisations, and experts. During the discussion, Iqbal Elyazar attended as a malaria expert to provide expert perspectives and data-driven analysis to help identify root causes and offer strategic input for accelerating elimination in the region.

This meeting served as a platform to consolidate various initiatives undertaken by multiple stakeholders in Mimika. The synergy between scientific expertise from specialists like Iqbal Elyazar and field programme implementation is expected to drive a significant reduction in malaria cases in Mimika Regency towards the 2030 elimination target.