The OPERA TIMIKA research team held an audience and stakeholder engagement meeting with the Regent of Mimika as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and local support for malaria research in Mimika District. The meeting was facilitated by the Head of the Mimika District Health Office, Godfried Maturbongs, AMK, S.IP, MM.Kes, together with the Mimika Malaria Programme Lead, Imelda K.R. Ohoiledjaan, A.Md.Kep.

During the meeting, Dr Iqbal Elyazar, Principal Investigator of OPERA TIMIKA, explained the background and aims of the study. He noted that malaria remains an important public health issue in Mimika. One of the key challenges is that malaria-transmitting mosquitoes may bite outdoors or around the household environment. This situation highlights the need for additional approaches that can complement existing malaria control measures.

Dr Iqbal also explained the intervention tools that will be assessed in the study, namely spatial emanators and insecticide-treated barriers. These tools are designed to help reduce human exposure to mosquito bites, particularly inside and around households during the times when people are still active and mosquito biting activity is high.

The research team also described the process for selecting households to take part in the study. Household selection will consider several sources of information, including household survey findings, mosquito collection results, the presence of nearby larval habitats, potential mosquito movement routes, and the willingness of household members to participate.

The study will involve both intervention households and control households. This will allow the team to assess whether the intervention package is feasible to implement, acceptable to the community, and has the potential to help reduce exposure to mosquito bites.

The team also outlined the main study procedures, including household surveys, mosquito collection, larval habitat assessment, malaria testing, intervention installation, monitoring visits, and interviews with household members. All activities will be conducted with informed consent from participants and in coordination with local health authorities and community stakeholders.

The OPERA TIMIKA research team met with the Regent of Mimika facilitated by the Mimika District Health Office and the Mimika malaria programme team.

During the meeting, Mr Johanes also shared a personal experience that reflected how real the mosquito problem is for people in Mimika. He said that during the current dry season, from late afternoon until bedtime, his hand is almost never away from his electric mosquito racket as he tries to keep mosquitoes away. Before the team left, he joked, “Well, if these interventions can be successfully developed in Timika, my mosquito racket can finally retire.” His comment brought laughter to everyone present that warm afternoon, along with a shared hope that this study may one day help provide better protection for communities from malaria mosquito bites.

The meeting provided an important space for the OPERA TIMIKA team to present the study plan, receive guidance, and ensure that field activities are aligned with local needs. Support from the Mimika District Government, the Mimika District Health Office, Pasar Sentral Puskesmas, and the local malaria programme team will be essential for the smooth implementation of the study. Through this collaboration, OPERA TIMIKA is expected to generate scientific evidence that can support stronger malaria control strategies in Mimika and other malaria-endemic areas in Papua.