Badung, Bali, June 17 -- The Indonesian government has designated Mimika district in Central Papua province and Keerom district in Papua province as pilot regions for a mass malaria medication program, according to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Speaking at the 9th Asia Pacific Leaders' Summit on Malaria in Badung district, Bali, on Tuesday, he said that the initiative could help bring down malaria infections significantly, but would require a substantial budget.

"We are currently assessing whether the program is economically feasible," he informed, adding that the assessment is necessary given the large size of the targeted population.

He explained that the two districts have been selected for the pilot given their high malaria ...