UNAIR NEWS – East Indonesia Community Service (Bakti Indonesia Timur) Period 2 started with a different composition of volunteers from the first one. They have several missions: screening for congenital heart disease, screening for stunting, and reducing maternal and infant mortality. The floating hospital RSTKA community service was held in two areas in East Nusa Tenggara: Lembata Regency and Malacca Regency.
The community service is sponsored by Protelindo, Amman Mineral Northstar Foundation, Frans Seda Foundation, Investree and ASKI (Astra Component Industry), and supported by Dr Soetomo Hospital, Universitas Airlangga, UNAIR Faculty of Medicine, and IDI Surabaya, as well as Pelindo, Pelindo Marine Service, and Aperindo.
The journey started with the arrival of volunteers at El Tari Airport on June 11, 2023, then headed to the RSTKA ship at Wini port. After moving the goods, the volunteers headed to Lembata Regency with the RSTKA ship.
Lembata
Lembata is an island in the Solor Islands group between East Flores and Alor Regencies. This district has three active volcanoes: Mount Ili Lewotolok, Mount Ililabalekan, and Mount Ili Werung-Hobal Complex. Lembata is famous for its whaling culture in the village of Lamalera.
The RSTKA docked at Lewoleba Lembata Port. All volunteers stay on board, so sometimes volunteers have to get on a lifeboat to move ashore. RSTKA provided health services in several places, including Lewoleba Hospital, Lewoleba Community Health Center (Puskesmas), Kolipadan Village, Selandoro Village, West Lewoleba Village, East Lewoleba Village, on 12-16 June 2020.
In its five days of service, RSTKA opened various clinics and served 80 ENT patients, 89 surgical patients, and 53 cardiology patients. At the puskesmas and posyandu, there are ANC and USG services for 38 pregnant women and stunting screening for 172 children. Counseling on stunting, ultrasound training for general practitioners at community health centers throughout Lembata Regency, and PPGDON training for midwives and doctors were also held.
In Lembata, there is also an eye clinic service. Dr. Yanuar Zulfikli SpM, the ophthalmologist, succeeded in carrying out 31 cataract surgeries, 12 pterygium surgeries from 142 poly patients. As is the case in Larantuka, the community’s enthusiasm in welcoming this eye surgery is very high.
“Every time we organize eye surgery services, especially cataracts, the community’s enthusiasm is very great, even exceeding the limit, even though we volunteers had to disassemble many surgical tools. Our tiredness seemed to vanish, seeing their emotional laughter when the gauze was released. Their vision is much brighter and clearer as artificial lenses replace the yellowish covering layer. We, as the initiators, also feel proud of it. At least we left them with hope, ” a statement from Dr. Alvin Saputra, person-in-charge of Bakti Indonesia Timur for eye surgery in Lembata.
Malacca
Malacca is a new autonomous region resulting from the division of Belu Regency, with the center of government being in Betun. In Malacca there is the Motamasin PLBN in East Kobalima. The Motamasin PLBN is the entry and exit point for Indonesia and Timor Leste, specifically in Salele, Covalima district.
The RSTKA ship docked at the port of Wini, while the volunteers continue their overland journey to a lodging near the city center. During June 19-23, RSTKA volunteers provided health services in several places, including Betun Hospital, Puskesmas Weoe, Puskesmas Namfalus, Puskesmas Betun, Weoe Village, Litamali Village, Rainawe Village.
In five days of service, RSTKA opened clinics at Betun General Hospital and served 124 ENT patients and 24 cardiology patients. At the puskesmas and posyandu, there are ANC and USG services for 138 pregnant women and stunting screening for 116 children. There was also stunting counseling, ultrasound training for general practitioners at health centers in Malacca district, and PPGDON training in which midwives and doctors participate.
Participating in this service were 18 volunteers consisting of anesthesiologists, PPDS ENT-KL, ob-gyn, surgical, pediatrics, cardiology specialists, general practitioners, surgical nurses, pharmacists, and the documentation team.
Impressions of RSTKA volunteers
“Very exciting. Traveling, sleeping, and some activities on the ship became a new experiences for me. Being an RSTKA documentation volunteer, there are many things that I should be grateful for, many wonderful places I can visit,” said Yudhi Cholikul Ihsan, RSTKA documentation volunteer.
Furthermore, during his time as a volunteer, Yudhi felt that he was in a comfortable environment. Fun friends, regardless of background. He is like being among family, people who have known each other for a long time. Even though it was the first time we met.
“It allows me to work and document activities to the fullest. I get more freedom in documenting. Basically, freedom is a form of expression, and expression is fun, and not everyone gets that,” he added.
Some get new knowledge as a provision to continue specialist education. Some have the opportunity to share specialist medical education knowledge with colleagues. But what is certain, all volunteers will get a new family after participating in the RSTKA community service. (*)
