Task force commander Lt. Col. Amar Supratman said on Sunday that health personnel from the Pirime Post visited residents such as Yotan from Bagumbuk Village, who needed immediate medical attention.
He said Sgt. Didik, the Pirime Post’s medical officer, has been actively providing treatment to villagers.
“Our health program is ready to serve anytime residents need assistance,” Supratman said.
He noted that the outreach is part of broader humanitarian operations conducted by the Indonesian military in border and interior areas across Papua.
According to Supratman, the mobile service aims to improve local living conditions and strengthen ties between soldiers and surrounding communities.
He said the free treatment also helps ease the financial burden on residents in remote highland areas.
“We hope this can lighten hardships and support villagers facing health challenges,” he added.
Lanny Jaya resident Julia expressed gratitude to the Pirime Post soldiers for providing free medicine and medical care for her husband.
In addition to the mobile medical service, several Indonesian military personnel stationed in Papua’s highlands have also been teaching Quran reading to Muslim children in remote Pirime Village due to the absence of religious teachers and to support spiritual development in the community.
About seven elementary school students attend the informal classes held at the Pirime Post of Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 511/DY, part of the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force.
“In these remote areas, there are no religious teachers, and Muslims are a minority,” Supratman said in a statement published in October.
“Our personnel are offering what religious education they can provide,” he added.
ANTARA noted that Indonesian troops stationed in Papua are expected to multitask and respond swiftly to daily challenges faced by local communities.
They are often called to act as problem-solvers while carrying out their primary mission of protecting national sovereignty and maintaining public safety.
Sharing land and sea borders with Papua New Guinea, the provinces of Papua and West Papua hold significant geopolitical and strategic importance for Indonesia.
Despite persistent security threats from armed separatist groups in several areas, soldiers in the region continue to demonstrate their commitment to community welfare through service-oriented programs.
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Translator: Yudhi E, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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