Clean Water Crisis, the Ministry of Health Acknowledges that Many Victims of the Sumatra Disaster Need Diarrhea Medicine
JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus admitted that currently many residents affected by the flood and landslide disaster in Sumatra have been affected by diseases due to the clean water crisis in the region.
Victims of disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, according to Benjamin, are in dire need of medicines, including diarrhea medicines due to sanitation that has not fully recovered.
From the health problems experienced by residents, the Ministry of Health will increase the distribution of medicines to the locations affected by the hydrometeorological disaster.
"What we need to prepare is post-disaster medicines, including medicines to treat diarrhea, to how to overcome the consequences of lack of clean water. So in the field there is less," said Benjamin after a ministerial-level meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, December 17.
In terms of health services, Benjamin explained the condition of health facilities in each province affected by the disaster. In Aceh, most hospitals and health centers have resumed operations, although some are still hampered by heavy damage.
"In Aceh there are 65 hospitals, today 62 hospitals are operational, there are 3 private hospitals that are still not (operational). Then of the 305 health centers in Aceh, 37 are not operational because they are severely damaged, the mud is high, so that is the 37 that are severely damaged. But the others can operate," said Benjamin.
In West Sumatra, all health facilities are reported to be operating to serve the public health. Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, hospital services have fully recovered, but there are still several health centers that have not been able to serve the community.
"In North Sumatra, there are 4 health centers that are not operational. If West Sumatra is all hospitals and North Sumatra is all hospitals, 100 percent operational. Only 4 health centers in North Sumatra are not operational," he said.
To ensure the availability of health services and equipment, the Ministry of Health has established a crisis center in each affected province, involving local governments and central representatives.
"We have a crisis center headed by the head of the Aceh, North Sumatra, and Padang Provincial Health Office. From the Ministry of Health, each crisis is placed under the representative of the Ministry of Health so that there is no reason for coordination problems," said Benjamin.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno conveyed that the progress in handling disasters in the three provinces was not uniform, but a number of previously isolated areas had begun to open.
"The achievements to date are still varied, but there is a very significant progress. Some isolated areas have been successfully opened," said Pratikno.
Pratikno also touched on the efforts to restore basic services such as electricity, fuel, LPG, and logistics which are still ongoing, especially in remote areas. Regarding the availability of food logistics, Pratikno said that stocks were considered sufficient, although distribution was still a challenge.
"For logistical needs, the Director of Bulog has also conveyed that it is very available, but the distribution is still being sought, even not only dropping logistics, but also taking products from local farmers, from local communities," he added.