JAYAPURA – Growth monitoring has become the most widely utilized service by the public under the Free Health Check-Up program (PKG) in Papua. However, several other crucial services, such as G6PD and colon cancer screenings, continue to have low demand and implementation rates.

The Acting Head of the Papua Provincial Health Office, Arry Pongtiku, stated that since the program was launched two and a half months ago, the PKG program has reached nine regencies and cities in the Papua Province.

As of March 2025, a total of 1, 336 residents had registered, and 944 people—or 70. 66 percent had undergone health checks.

"Growth monitoring for newborns reached 96 percent, while G6PD enzyme screening was only at 8 percent," said Arry. G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) testing is crucial for identifying the risk of hemolytic anemia, especially in newborns. However, limitations in equipment and varying levels of understanding among healthcare workers have hindered the optimal implementation of this service.

In toddlers and preschool-age children, the growth monitoring rate reached 98 percent. Meanwhile, thalassemia screening services have only achieved 24 percent coverage.

For the adult population, blood sugar and blood pressure checks have been conducted in all health centers providing PKG services, achieving 100 percent coverage. However, colon cancer and kidney function screenings remain low, at only 14 percent.

According to Arry, the variation in service coverage is attributed to factors such as equipment availability, healthcare worker competencies, and public understanding of the benefits of each type of screening.

The Health Office is currently enhancing training for healthcare workers, including improving digital recordkeeping through the PKG app.

"We are striving to ensure that all types of screening are evenly distributed across all age groups. This is vital for the early detection and prevention of more serious diseases," he said. ***