Jakarta (ANTARA) – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that surgeries for residents injured in the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are continuing despite damage to Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai District, NTT.
He made the statement while reviewing health services at Ruteng Regional Hospital, where patient care, including surgery, is currently being provided in emergency tents outside the hospital building.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sadikin said fractures and trauma were among the most common medical conditions reported following the earthquake. He noted that these cases require orthopedic specialists to ensure patients receive prompt and appropriate treatment.
During the visit, the minister met patients who suffered fractures after buildings collapsed. One of them was Yosef, a 12-year-old boy who fractured his femur after his neighbor’s house collapsed in the earthquake.
“If he does not undergo surgery, he will be disabled after he recovers. He will not be able to play football anymore. He loves playing football and wants to play for the national team,” Sadikin said.
He also confirmed that Yosef was receiving treatment from a team of orthopedic specialists deployed to strengthen medical services at Ruteng Regional Hospital.
The team includes specialists from Dr. Soetomo Regional Hospital in Surabaya, supported by medical personnel from several hospitals and medical education institutions.
“We thank our colleagues from hospitals who have stepped in to help. Medical teams from Sardjito Hospital, Ben Mboi Hospital, Hasanuddin University, and Dr. Soetomo Hospital have been deployed to Ruteng Regional Hospital to assist in treating patients requiring orthopedic care,” he said.
To ensure the continuity of health services and surgical procedures, the Health Ministry is building a field hospital at Golo Dukal Stadium in Manggarai District, equipped with an operating room to provide surgical services.
In addition, the ministry is preparing to build another field hospital at Nagekeo Regional Hospital. Both hospitals serve as referral healthcare facilities but sustained earthquake damage, preventing them from operating at full capacity.
Sadikin stressed that the post-earthquake health response should extend beyond hospitals to communities at the village level. The Health Ministry will step up the deployment of health workers and volunteers to conduct health checks in affected areas.
According to him, health teams will visit community health centers and affected villages to identify people in need of immediate care, including patients who require treatment or referral to hospitals.
“We urgently need to send volunteer teams to all community health centers in North Flores to assess all villages and identify which patients need immediate care and referral to hospitals,” he said.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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