NTT quake – Two field hospitals set up to maintain health services

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Health Ministry has set up two field hospitals at Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai and Aeramo Regional Hospital in Nagekeo to maintain medical services after an earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The Health Ministry’s Health Crisis Center Head Agus Jamaludin said the field hospitals were deployed after the Health Emergency Operation Center was activated to respond to earthquake damage at health facilities.

“This step is crucial to ensure disaster-affected communities retain safe and adequate access to health services, as both facilities were damaged,” Agus said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

On Tuesday (Aug. 18), the Nagekeo Composite Emergency Medical Team coordinated with Aeramo hospital’s director on field hospital operations and inspected damaged wards with hospital maintenance staff.

“Based on initial coordination, Aeramo Regional Hospital urgently needs additional tents to support the field hospital,” he said.

The medical team includes two orthopedic surgeons, one general surgeon, two anesthesiologists, one general practitioner, and nurses specializing in emergency care, anesthesia, and operating rooms.

The main team includes health workers from Kupang, Wahidin Hospital in Makassar, Leimena Hospital in Ambon, and Ben Mboi Hospital in Kupang, backed by Kariadi Hospital.

Medical personnel deployed to Ende Regional Hospital have also been placed on standby to support Aeramo hospital if earthquake-related needs surge, he said.

The emergency team brought priority supplies including vaccines from Bio Farma, an emergency kit, 2,000 masks, 1,000 bags of HS NS intravenous fluids, and 400 pairs of medical gloves.

The ministry will continue monitoring conditions and assessing additional needs with local governments to accelerate restoration of health services across earthquake-affected areas.