Tragedy hit a toddler from Kampung Padangenyang, Cianaga Village, Kabandungan District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. The toddler named Raya (4) passed away on July 22, 2025 at RSUD R. Syamsudin (Bunut) in a horrifying condition, where his body was infested with parasitic worms that even reached his brain.
The unusual circumstances surrounding this death have garnered widespread attention from the public. During treatment, parasitic worms were reported to come out of the victim’s nose, adding to the distress of the unfortunate child’s tragedy. Here are some important facts that have been gathered from various sources.
1. The number of worms inside his body was alarmingly high.
At least 1 kilogram of live worms was extracted from Raya’s body during treatment. There were even 15 cm long worms coming out of his nose and anus.
2. Spread to vital organs.
Medical examinations showed that the ascariasis infection had spread to the lungs and brain. Doctors stated that this condition was much worse than a typical worm infection.
3. Poor environmental conditions and upbringing.
Raya lived in a raised house with a space underneath that served as a playing area, surrounded by chickens and feces. Both of his parents had mental and physical health issues; his mother was mentally disabled, while his father had tuberculosis. This resulted in minimal care for the child.
4. Administrative hurdles.
Raya’s family did not have identification documents like Family Cards or BPJS, limiting their access to healthcare services.
5. Crucial role of volunteers.
Volunteers from Rumah Teduh actively assisted, including picking up Raya with an ambulance, taking care of the hospital bill amounting to around Rp 23 million, and providing limited access to treatment.
6. Achievements of village government and health department interventions.
Cianaga Village had been providing Supplementary Feeding (Pemberian Makanan Tambahan) and regular deworming every six months. However, further interventions were hindered due to lack of consent from the parents and the family’s poor caregiving.
The response from the government and the sanctions imposed:
1. Criticism from the DPR.
The Chairman of the DPR RI Commission VIII condemned the local government and the surrounding environment’s negligence in handling this case, despite it being under the supervision of Integrated Health Post (posyandu).
2. Sanctions from the Governor of West Java.
The Governor of West Java expressed deep concern and disappointment over this tragic situation. He postponed the disbursement of funds for Cianaga village and considered imposing sanctions on village officials for failing to carry out governance functions, such as the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK), Integrated Health Post (posyandu), and village midwives.
Why is this case important?
1. Reflection of social inequality and environmental health.
Poor sanitation conditions and limited access to healthcare services were the main factors contributing to this tragedy.
2. Importance of early detection of parasite infections.
In cases of worm infections, symptoms can usually be detected early. However, delayed intervention led to serious complications that allowed the infection to reach the brain.
3. Role of identity documents in healthcare access.
Without Family Cards and BPJS, Raya’s family struggled to access proper healthcare services.
4. Expansion of protection for vulnerable children.
This case emphasizes the importance of extra attention to children in families with parents with special needs from the village government and the community.
Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the Integrated Health Post system, healthcare services, population administration, and family empowerment programs is needed. This step is crucial to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
