More than a Piece of Paper: Birth Certificates Open Possibilities in South Papua
Birth Registration Rates Rise with New System in Asmat, Papua
- English
- Bahasa Indonesia
Walking carefully between worn-out planks and soft soil, Monika, a cadre for a Community Health Post (Posyandu), has just finished her last visit to a family in Kampung Wawcesaw, Asmat, South Papua. Holding her clipboard tight, with names written all over the paper, she has helped yet another parent register their child.
Monika’s daily routine is anything but ordinary. She navigates crocodile-infested rivers and unpredictable tides for hours to reach families. Many of the parents she visits can’t afford the travel cost (at least 500 million rupiah or approx. USD $30) to register their children at the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) office in the capital city of Asmat.
Monika also faces the challenge of low public awareness. Many parents do not know they need supporting documents to register their child, like family cards or marriage certificates. Some even suspect her of misusing their paperwork. “I explain to them that this is part of the process, and that later they can use the birth certificate for health facilities, schools and more,” she says.
Moses and Odelia, parents of five children, faced these difficulties trying to register their children. “We had to paddle a boat from our village to the regency office. Once we arrived, we were told to complete several documents,” Moses recalls. “We had not prepared all the required paperwork. We were stranded, without a way out. We went back home, but we could not afford to return.” Monika supported them in completing the registration of their children.
Birth registration remains a significant challenge across South Papua, where only 47.27 per cent of children under five have birth certificates, far below the national average of 85.07 per cent (2024 National Socio-Economic Survey-SUSENAS).
Though registration is free, a number of barriers make access difficult, such as limited staff at local health centres and weak referral systems. Cultural norms also contribute to delays. In Asmat, many families live nomadically, practicing meramu – leaving their villages to find food. During these absences, children are often left behind for prolonged periods, making birth registration a lower priority than survival.
Without birth certificates, children lack a legal identity – denying them basic human rights and preventing access to key services like education and healthcare. Without registration data, the government cannot plan and allocate resources effectively.
Since 2021, UNICEF has been supporting the "My Village, My Home" initiative in Papua to boost birth registration coverage through community engagement in several community health posts (Posyandu) and Early Childhood Development centres. Communities use a screening tool to identify children under age five who are not registered or immunized, remind parents and support them to complete the process.
In Asmat Regency, UNICEF partnered with the South Papua Province government to increase birth registration by integrating the registration process into health services. In early 2024, the CRVS Office and District Health Office introduced a new system in eight health facilities in Asmat.
Unlike before – when parents had to travel long distances to register their child – now they can submit a copy of the required documents to their closest health centre (Puskemas) or Posyandu. Health workers send the details to the central CRVS office through WhatsApp, where the certificates are produced.
Within five months of introducing the new system, 100 per cent of newborns in all eight health facilities (one hospital and seven Puskesmas) had received their birth certificates. In early 2025, Asmat Regency began expanding this approach to all 22 health centres in Asmat. Within the first six months, 85.5 per cent of all newborns had received a birth certificate.
The streamlined process also makes data collection more efficient. “It has become easier to input essential information, such as birth records and immunization data, into systems like ASIK [Aplikasi Sehat IndonesiaKu],” explains Teguh, Head of the Ayam Community Health Center.
Thomas Eppe Safanpo, the Regent of Asmat, underscores the importance of having reliable information. “Going forward, we want development policies to be based on accurate population data. That’s why the data must be strengthened and precise,” he says.
Going forward, we want development policies to be based on accurate population data. That’s why the data must be strengthened and precise
Moses and Odelia appreciate that a birth certificate is more than just a piece of paper. “It is very important for our children’s future. Among other things, it allows them to enrol in school,” says Moses. “We hope that all parents register their children.”
Yonathan, Head of the Health Office in Agats, also shares that wish. As he puts it: “I dream of a day when all parents understand that a birth certificate is important.”
