Surrounded By Floods, 73-Year-Old Elderly In West Kalimantan Use Canoe When Referred To Ahmad Diponegoro Hospital

An elderly patient at Kedamin Hulu was rushed to the South Putussibau Health Center (ANTARA)

KALBAR - Elderly patients in Kedamin Hulu, Putussibau Selatan District, Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan (Kalbar) had to be referred by canoe to the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Dr. Ahmad Diponegoro.

The head of the South Putussibau Health Center, Dr. Dasmiati Olfah, when contacted, said that the condition of the patient named Karim (73) was forced to use a canoe considering the environmental conditions around the flood.

"The results of the diagnosis showed that the patient was suffering from a hypertrophic prostate, so he had to be referred to Dr. Ahmad Diponegoro Putussibau Public Hospital because we didn't have an ambulance and coincidentally the condition was flooded, so the patient was referred using a canoe," Dasmiati said as quoted by Antara, Monday, August 23.

The patient was initially rushed to the South Putussibau Health Center by car. However, because they could not cross the flood, they had to use a canoe or boat.

According to her, the officers of the South Putussibau Public Health Center immediately provided treatment and were finally referred to Dr. Ahmad Diponegoro Putussibau Hospital for further treatment.

"We don't have a canoe, let alone an ambulance, so after being referred the patient is taken by his family using a canoe to Dr. Ahmad Diponegoro Putussibau Hospital," said Dasmiati Olfah.

Currently, North and South Putussibau, as well as a number of areas in Kapuas Hulu, are hit by heavy floods with an average depth of more than three meters. Floods have occurred since Saturday, August 21 until today.