The integration of health services is a vital strategy for strengthening the healthcare system in Papua, particularly in tackling the triple burden of Malaria, HIV, and Tuberculosis (TB). To ensure the success of such an ambitious initiative, a comprehensive evaluation of the existing infrastructure, human resources, and local government commitment is essential before implementation. Understanding the "readiness" of a district allows for a more structured approach to deploying integrated services in geographically and socially challenging environments.

The PERKASA Cadre Program (PERkuat KAder SAtu), initiated by the Persatuan Karya Dharma Kesehatan Indonesia (PERDHAKI), is part of this effort by promoting the integration of community-based health services.

By assessing the systemic preparedness of local health offices and primary health centres (Puskesmas), the programme can identify potential bottlenecks—such as budget allocations, drug supply chains, and cross-sectoral coordination—before the first group of workers is deployed. This proactive analysis ensures that the integration of services is not just a theoretical model but a sustainable operational reality.

OUCRU Indonesia has completed the first phase of the PERKASA programme assessment, focusing on "System and Resource Readiness" in three priority regencies: Jayapura, Nabire, and Merauke. This baseline analysis is crucial for the rollout of the Kader PERKASA (Integrated Community Health Workers) initiative, which aims to empower local workers to manage multiple infectious diseases simultaneously.

The readiness study highlights several key findings:

• Institutional Commitment: Strong support from the District Health Offices (DHO) in all three regencies, with a shared vision of integrating Malaria, HIV, and TB services to improve efficiency.
• Human Resource Mapping: Identification of the existing CHW network and the necessary training gaps that must be addressed to enable these workers to handle a broader range of health tasks.
• Logistical Foundations: Evaluation of the readiness of Puskesmas to support CHWs through supervision and the provision of essential diagnostic tools and medicines.
• Cross-Programme Coordination: The need for a more formalised mechanism to synchronise the reporting and monitoring systems of the three different disease programmes.
• Sustainability Prospects: Initial discussions on how local governments can eventually integrate the PERKASA model into their long-term health budgets to ensure continuity after external funding concludes.

The findings from this first phase assessment serve as the foundation for the subsequent training and implementation stages. By addressing the identified gaps in resource readiness, the PERKASA programme is better positioned to deliver integrated, community-based care that is both resilient and responsive to the needs of the Papuan people.

As the programme moves forward, this assessment will guide the development of tailored training modules and monitoring tools, ensuring that the Kader PERKASA are well-supported by a system that is fully prepared for integration.