Indonesia: Collaboration with the PMI in the Papua Province
Jakarta (ICRC) – In support of strengthening the capacity of the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia/PMI) at the provincial and district level, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation to Indonesia and Timor-Leste together with the PMI organized a series of orientation and dissemination sessions on humanitarian values and Red Cross principles to the board members of PMI from 12 regencies in the province of Papua. These sessions were held in Jayapura and Nabire on 6-9 April 2021.
In the 2-day sessions, the participants learned the code of conduct in working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, PMI organization and governance, how to work and deliver relief safely as well as the guidelines while working in the field, that could guide them when conducting their humanitarian work.
Prior to these sessions, in March the ICRC also joined PMI to bring relief items to communities in needs in the highlands of Papua Province and to encounter representatives of the newly established branch of the PMI in Intan Jaya.
The chairperson of PMI Nabire, dr. Andreas Pekey, Sp. PD welcomed the sessions organized for the new board members of PMI branches from Meepago area. "I really appreciate the orientation sessions. It provided us with fundamental knowledge on the importance of upholding humanitarian principles for everyone, regardless of your background", Mr Pekey said.
A series of meetings to further discuss the joint programs between the ICRC and the PMI was also organized with key stakeholders. In the meeting with Dance Yulian Flassy, SE, MSc, the Secretary of Papua Province, the Head of ICRC Regional Delegation, Alexandre Faite, said that the ICRC is always ready to support and facilitate health programs in the province such as cataract surgery and prevention of COVID-19.
"The ICRC and the PMI have been working together for years to support health programs in Papua Province, such as in organizing free cataract surgery since 2006, distributing COVID-19 assistance to prisons and hospitals in Papua and Papua Barat, and sending humanitarian relief to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Intan Jaya."
"We also would like to underline our commitment to expand our support to the Indonesian government in implementing its COVID-19 vaccination program especially in the eastern part of Indonesia that are more isolated", Mr Faite said.
The ICRC also met Inspector General (Pol.) Mathius D. Fakhiri, the Head of Papua Regional Police, Dr. Robby Kayame, SKM, M.Kes, the Head of Provincial Health Office of Papua, as well as dr. Frans F. C. Sayori, M. Kes, the Acting Regency Health Office of Nabire to explore possible collaboration.
