"Starting today, the emergency room is operational. We have opened medical services for minor illnesses on an outpatient basis," said Andika Putra, Director of the hospital, in Aceh Tamiang, Wednesday.
He explained that minor illnesses or microsurgical procedures include wounds caused by glass, zinc, and minor accidents. Chronic patients are still being treated, and if the hospital is unable to do so will be referred to Langsa or Medan Hospital.
"Our wards are not yet able to accommodate hospitalized patients; all patients are still outpatients. They will be examined, given medication, and then treated at home," he said.
Putra said that his team is currently conducting a thorough cleaning of every room, including the corridors, with the assistance of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the local water company (PDAM).
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The operations of the hospital are also supported by a medical team brought in from North Sumatra. Meanwhile, electricity has been restored by the state electricity company (PLN) although it has not been fully operational for 24 hours.
"The electricity has been on since yesterday. In case of a blackout, we still have a generator from PLN," he said.
He explained that the hospital management is required to report daily to the Health Ministry regarding the progress and medical services of the largest hospital in Aceh Tamiang.
Putra revealed that 95 percent of the medical equipment at the hospital was damaged by the mudflow, including the medicines stored on the ground floor.
Hospital services were completely paralyzed due to a lack of medicines. They relied solely on the remaining medicines on the second floor.
"Today, we have started accepting patients again after the emergency room was reactivated. We are asked by the Health Ministry to provide daily updates, including on room cleanliness; there must be no more traces of mud on the floor," he said.
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Translator: Rahmat Fajri, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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