Although Papua has a wide area coverage, not everyone has easy access to health and education services. Because of this, when the Sisters of OSF intended to contribute to providing education and health services in Maybrat, the district government welcomed their intentions.
Health and Education Services in Maybrat District
Maybrat Regency is one of the new districts in West Papua. This district experienced division from Sorong district in 2009. Meanwhile, the population of this district is around 42,991 people in 2020.
Based on data from the district government office, Maybrat Papua has 4 healthcare centers, 21 kindergartens/early childhood education, 65 elementary schools, 13 junior high schools, 4 high schools, and 1 vocational school.
In addition to building puskesmas (public health centers) and schools to provide the services in Maybrat district, the local government is also conducting job evaluations.
That way, the Maybrat district health office together with the local government, can continue to improve health services to the community and reduce the number of morbid cases in Maybrat.
Furthermore, the government also hopes to increase the quality and quantity of health workers in the Maybrat district. The government is doing this by providing counseling and training to health workers in Maybrat, for example, by training in using an application for recording and reporting the immunization program.
Although various efforts have been made to improve the quality of health and education services, the local government still needs support from various parties to maximize the achievements of health and education services.
In the education sector, for example, schools in Maybrat still need additional teaching staff. In fact, the budget to pay teachers is still minimal.
Because of this, the government, through the Head of the Maybrat District Education Office, Kornelius Kambu, said that his party would coordinate with various parties to overcome problems in providing education.
OSF Sisters Help Developing Health and Education Services in Maybrat
The OSF Sisters built a clinic and early-childhood school to make it easier for the Papuan people to get access to education and health. Before that, the Sisters also built a monastery in the Ayawasi area.
Meanwhile, the monastery was inaugurated by the Bishop of Manokwari-Sorong, Mgr. Hilarius Datus Lega on March 25.
Bishop Datus Lega expressed his hope through his speech at the monastery’s inauguration. He hopes that this monastery can become a very useful facility for all parties to obtain humanitarian services, especially in the fields of health and education.
In addition, Datus Lega also hopes that the Sisters’ program to contribute to the services will receive full support from the government and the local community.
Maybrat Government Support OSF Sisters’ Intention
The Maybrat Regency Regional Secretary’s Acting (Plh), Ferdinandus Taa, conveyed that the Maybrat district government welcomes all parties who wish to collaborate with them to develop the welfare of the Papuan people.
This includes the wishes of the Convent of the Order of Saint Francis (OSF), which intends to develop health and education services in the Maybrat District. According to Ferdinandus Taa, their decision to provide health and education services will be very useful for the community.
Apart from being in line with the local government’s vision and mission, the OSF nuns’ decision can also provide many other benefits. One of them is preparing qualified and physically healthy human resources.
To conclude, the support from the OSF nuns in providing education and health services in Maybrat helps the community get access to health and education efficiently. It helps form a religious and prosperous Maybrat community. In the end, the collaboration between the people, the government, and the community will help make the education and health program for Papuans successful.
