Rodo Fabo Regional Hospital in Waropen: Tangible Evidence of President Prabowo’s Astacita Reaching the People of Waropen
Waropen Regent Drs. F.X. Mote formally submitted the proposal for the development of the Waropen Regional General Hospital (RSUD) to Ghotama Airlangga, Director of Referral Healthcare Facilities at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, marking a key step toward strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the regency.
By Paulus Laratmase
Translated (Indonesian-English) by Leni Marlina
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Waropen, Papua, Indonesia. The construction of the Type C Rodo Fabo Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Waropen Regency marks a significant milestone in the history of healthcare services in the Cenderawasih Bay region. Beyond addressing the community’s long-standing and urgent need for medical care, the hospital stands as a concrete manifestation of President Prabowo Subianto’s Astacita agenda, particularly in the health sector, reaching remote and underdeveloped areas.
Waropen Regent Drs. Franciskus Xaverius Mote, M.Si., stated during a press conference that the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s attention to Waropen is the result of years of persistent advocacy by the local government to secure the people’s fundamental right to decent healthcare services.
“Under President Prabowo Subianto’s Astacita, there are three key health priorities: free health screenings for all age groups, reducing tuberculosis cases, and the construction of fully equipped, high-quality hospitals in remote and underdeveloped regions,” Regent Mote said.
According to Regent F.X. Mote, these priorities are closely aligned with the objective conditions in Waropen Regency, which has long faced limited access to referral healthcare services. He emphasized that free health screenings constitute a fundamental preventive strategy.
“Health screenings are essential to ensure early detection when public health conditions begin to decline. If we can detect illnesses early, treatment can be carried out more swiftly, preventing people from ending up hospitalized in severe conditions,” he explained.
He added that the development of the Type C Rodo Fabo Regional Hospital is the result of close collaboration between the Waropen Regency Government and the Ministry of Health.
“In the second year of our leadership, together with Deputy Regent Yoel Boari, I met directly with the Director of Community Health Services in Jakarta. By the grace of God, construction of the Type C Rodo Fabo Hospital is set to begin in 2026, and we hope it can be officially inaugurated in February 2027,” Mote said.
The regent further stressed that the presence of the hospital represents the tangible presence of the state in Papua. “President Prabowo’s programs emphasize collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the health of the people, including those in remote areas like Waropen. The state must not be absent when its citizens fall ill,” he asserted.
Of the eight national priority programs under Astacita, three are directly related to health: free health screenings, free nutritious meals, and the enhancement of facilities and access to universal healthcare services. According to Mote, these initiatives build a comprehensive healthcare system from upstream to downstream ranging from disease prevention and nutritional fulfillment to adequate referral services.
The local government’s commitment was further reinforced through a direct meeting between Regent Mote and Ghotama Airlangga, Director of Referral Healthcare Facilities at the Ministry of Health. As a result, the construction of the Type C Waropen Regional Hospital has now become a reality. “We are not only building infrastructure, but also preparing qualified human resources,” Mote noted.
Regent F.X. Mote explained that the Acting Head of the Waropen Health Office, Dr. Jenggo Suwarko, has initiated cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta to sponsor medical students and facilitate the deployment of specialist doctors who will serve part-time in Waropen at the request of the local government.
“The establishment of Rodo Fabo Regional Hospital will significantly reduce mortality rates. Until now, Waropen residents have had to be referred to hospitals in Serui or Biak, facing high risks due to distance and limited transportation,” Regent Mote concluded.
With the construction of Rodo Fabo Regional Hospital underway, the people of Waropen are now closer to realizing their hope for equitable and dignified healthcare services.
