Humanitarian Collaboration, Riau Police Assist 310 Residents to Participate in Free Cataract Operation

PEKANBARU - A total of 310 residents from various districts and cities in the Riau province participated in the free cataract surgery social service organized by the Riau Police in collaboration with the Awal Bros Hospital, the Indonesian Association of Eye Specialists (Perdami) Riau-Kepri, and the Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation.

The activities, which are centered at the Awal Bros Panam Hospital, Pekanbaru, are a tangible manifestation of cross-sectoral humanitarian collaboration in providing health services to the community while restoring hope for cataract sufferers who have been visually impaired.

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan said this activity was a tangible form of humanitarian solidarity that provided direct benefits to the community.

According to him, a meaningful life is a life that is able to provide benefits for fellow human beings.

"Today we strengthen one very important value, namely human solidarity. Ideally, humans are those who provide benefits to fellow humans. Therefore, this activity is not only about medical operations, but how to bring back hope for our brothers and sisters," said Inspector General Herry in his remarks, Friday, June 5.

In his speech, the Police Chief also shared his personal experience when accompanying his father who had vision problems while performing worship in the Holy Land.

According to Herry, this experience made him understand how valuable the ability to see is and how much a vision means for a person's quality of life.

"I have experienced firsthand how someone has to carry out activities with limitations because they can't see well. Therefore, when today there are 310 people who have the opportunity to see the world more clearly, then in fact we are bringing hope and happiness to them and their families," he said.

Herry emphasized that every good deed done sincerely will provide much greater benefits for the community.

"When someone can see again, he can see his children and grandchildren, can walk more independently, can get back to activities, and can enjoy life better. This is the true meaning of dedication to others," he said.

The Chairperson of the Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation, Emi Wiranto, said that the free cataract surgery activity was part of the foundation's commitment to provide tangible benefits to people in need, especially those who have limited access to eye health services.

According to Emi, vision is one of the most valuable gifts in life. Therefore, helping people regain their ability to see is a form of humanitarian service that has a major impact on a person's quality of life.

"We believe that goodness must be realized in real actions. Through collaboration with the Riau Police, Awal Bros Hospital, and Perdami, we want to help people who have been living with vision limitations so that they can see again and live better," said Emi.

He said the high number of participants who attended the program showed that there were still many people who needed eye health services.

Therefore, the Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation is committed to continuing to build collaboration with various parties to present social programs that have a direct impact on the community.

"For us, the success of this activity is not just the number of operations carried out. The real happiness is when the participants can see their family's faces again, return to activities, and have hope to live a better life," he said.

Emi also expressed his appreciation to the Riau Police Chief for providing full support for the humanitarian activities, as well as to the Awal Bros Hospital and ophthalmologists who have contributed to the success of free cataract surgery for hundreds of Riau people.

Meanwhile, CEO of Awal Bros Hospital Arfan Awaloeddin said the collaboration was part of a joint commitment to expand access to eye health services for people in need.

According to Arfan, there are still many people who live with visual impairment due to cataracts not because the disease cannot be cured, but because of limited access to health services.

"Cataracts are not a disease without a solution. What often becomes a challenge is how people can reach the health services they need. Therefore, today we are working with the Riau Police, Perdami, and Sekar Ayu Jiwanta Foundation to bring this service directly to the community," he said.

Arfan also appreciated the idea of Green Policing which was initiated by the Riau Regional Police. According to him, this concept not only talks about the environment, but also about how to bring real benefits to human life.

"At first I thought Green Policing was just talking about greening. But the more I understand, it turns out that the philosophy that is built is much bigger, namely how to maintain life and provide benefits to the community. This is the spirit that we feel in this activity," he said.

All participants in the operation received services using modern phacoemulsification technology which is the standard of cataract surgery services at Awal Bros Hospital.

The activity was also attended by representatives of the Riau Provincial Health Office, the ranks of Perdami Riau-Kepri, the head of the Awal Bros Group Hospital, ophthalmologists, the main officials of the Riau Police, social volunteers, and hundreds of participants in free cataract surgery. []