Healing Hands in the Highlands: Yonif 700/Wira Yudha Cakti Soldiers Bring Hope to Remote Papuan Villages

PAPUA - Amidst the biting chill and serene isolation of Papua's highland valleys, an extraordinary story of compassion unfolds. On July 7, 2025, soldiers from the RI-PNG Border Security Task Force Yonif 700/Wira Yudha Cakti, stationed at Pos Gerbang Jawa, reached out with heartfelt service offering free healthcare to residents of Wombru Village, Mage’abume District, and nearby areas.

Led by Second Lieutenant Inf. Risal, the soldiers trekked through rugged terrain to deliver medical aid where it's needed most. In a region where healthcare is often a distant hope, their presence brought a rare moment of comfort and healing. Residents from surrounding villages braved long journeys to attend the makeshift clinic, highlighting just how deep the need truly runs.

Among them was Etinus, a man from Wombru who has endured chronic headaches for years without proper care. Alongside him was Mama Yesina from Kembru Village, who walked for hours seeking relief. Their stories reflect the harsh realities faced by many in Papua’s remote areas realities the soldiers of Yonif 700 are striving to change.

Transforming a humble honai (traditional Papuan hut) into a temporary clinic, the troops worked with minimal equipment but maximum empathy. Every treatment was delivered with care, not just to ease pain, but to restore dignity and hope.

“We come not just as guards of the border, ” said Second Lieutenant Risal, “but as brothers. In a place where access is limited, we want to be part of the solution. We hope our presence brings comfort and strengthens the bond we share with the community.”

Panglima Komando Operasi TNI Habema, Major General TNI Lucky Avianto, commended the initiative. “What these soldiers have done reflects the highest ideals of the TNI. They are not only defending the nation's borders, but actively serving its people especially those in forgotten corners of the country. This is the true spirit of humanitarian service, ” he stated.

In the heart of Papua’s highlands, where challenges are many and roads are few, these soldiers have proven that compassion travels farther than any patrol reminding us that even in the most remote places, hope can arrive in uniform.

Verified by:

Dansatgas Media Koops Habema, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Iwan Dwi Prihartono