Speaking to reporters in Timika after a working visit to Agats, Asmat Regency, on Thursday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that infrastructure projects, such as Trans Papua road, bridges, seaports, and airports, aim to improve access and mobility for the people in Papua.
"Trans Papua is constructed to connect one place with another, making it easier for the people to access the districts and the regency capitals and cities," he noted.
Infrastructure development, according to him, must be improved before solving other basic problems.
The basic issues in Papua include fulfilling children nutrition, decent and healthy housing, food availability, as well as access to quality education and health.
Jokowi appreciated various programs that have been carried out by various ministries, in cooperation with the Asmat Regency administration and National Defense Forces (TNI) Task Force, after the lifting of the status of the events of measles and malnutrition in Asmat by the end of January.
Public Works and People`s Housing Ministry has built a clean water reservoir, completed with bore wells, in nine locations in Asmat, five in Agats City, and four in other districts.
The provision of clean water facilities is very important to support the availability of water for Asmat people who, for years, had been relying on rain water for their consumption and daily needs, considering the geographical condition in the regency, with its swamp and brackish water.
According to Jokowi, clean water facilities are essential to provide better health, sanitation, and environmental conditions for the residents of Asmat in the future.
Reported by Evarianus Supar
(Y013/INE)
(T.Y013/A/KR-BSR/S012)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
