Indonesia, April 12 -- The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) is preparing local communities to serve as the frontline in efforts to make Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, free from malaria and dengue.

"Health development places the community as the primary actor," Director of Basic Services at the OIKN, Suwito, said here on Saturday.

According to him, this approach also strengthens promotive and preventive efforts to ensure that the new capital - which spans across parts of the North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara districts - is free from the vector-borne diseases.

He explained the health cadre team - formed from the local residents - is expected to educate the local communities, manage disease vectors in th...