UNAIR NEWS – Persistent heavy rainfall continues across Sumatra, including Malalak Subdistrict, where volunteers from the Ksatria Airlangga Hospital Ship (RSKKA) are carrying out a humanitarian medical mission. With several key roads still inaccessible, conditions on the ground remain challenging. Nevertheless, the RSKKA team proceeded with healthcare services on Sunday (December 13, 2025).
In coordination with Brawijaya University (UB) and Muhammadiyah University of Malang (UMM), RSKKA volunteers delivered medical assistance to disaster-affected residents at the Birah Tinggi emergency post and the Malalak Subdistrict Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Agam Regency, West Sumatra. The operation recorded a total of 107 patients receiving medical care.
Multidisciplinary medical team
The volunteer team included general practitioners from multiple medical backgrounds, supported by nurses, midwives, psychologists, pharmacists, and non-medical staff. The deployment was further strengthened by the presence of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology as well as dermatology and venereology, allowing for more comprehensive treatment. Obstetrics and gynecology specialists also conducted prenatal checkups using ultrasound equipment at the service post for expectant mothers.
“We established specialized medical services by bringing several specialist physicians directly to the disaster-affected area, particularly at the Malalak Subdistrict Community Health Center,” said dr. Zulfikar Salim, a member of the RSKKA volunteer team. “This initiative was aimed at responding to the limited healthcare access faced by communities after the disaster.”
During the mission, the team also treated an emergency case involving a local resident who suffered a loss of consciousness accompanied by severe dehydration. Resuscitation and stabilization measures were carried out under specialist supervision. However, due to limited availability of specialized medications and supporting blood test reagents at the site, the patient was referred to a higher-level hospital for further treatment.
Challenges in disaster area
On the ground, volunteers faced significant logistical challenges stemming from post-disaster conditions, particularly restricted road access to service locations. “The journey to Malalak took much longer than usual. Despite this, all planned healthcare services were successfully delivered,” dr. Salim said.
The situation was further complicated by landslides that cut off access to the referral hospital in Bukittinggi. Under normal conditions, travel to the city takes approximately 30 minutes, but after the disaster, detours extended travel time to as long as four and a half hours.
“With sufficient medical supplies and proper facilities, advanced treatment could have been administered directly at the service site,” dr. Salim added. The medical mission forms part of broader efforts to restore healthcare services in disaster-affected communities while reinforcing inter-university collaboration in humanitarian response.
Author: Yulia Rohmawati
