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PublicationsInternational Activity Report 2007IndonesiaLocated on the ‘Ring of Fire’, Indonesia is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides. MSF began working in the country in October 1995. After the 2004 Tsunami, MSF set up a clinic in Aceh and ran projects in eight affected districts providing medical care including surgery, vaccinations and psychological support. MSF continues to assist victims of natural disasters through its emergency programs and provides health care in remote areas. Responding to emergenciesMSF responded to a measles outbreak in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi, and worked with the local health authority to set up a mass vaccination campaign reaching over 7,000 children. MSF treated 1,132 cases of malaria in South Halmahera and distributed 3,701 bed nets in Buano Island of Maluku Province. MSF also provided health care to 1,291 miners in Mimika in Papua after a high number of cases of meningitis was reported. MSF intervened after floods in Jakarta and a series of earthquakes that jolted West Sumatra, in Bengkulu, Muko Muko and Mentawai Island. The teams ran mental health activities providing psychological support to 29,000 people. After the March earthquake in West Sumatra, MSF set up four hospital tents to support Padang Panjang hospital and Puskesmas Lunang Silaut and donated medical supplies to the local health authority. The teams conducted 5,110 medical consultations and distributed 43,600 blankets, 24,600 plastic sheets, 1,400 cooking sets and 22,000 hygiene kits. Providing health care in remote areasFollowing a measles vaccination campaign on the remote island of Papua in May 2006, MSF launched a primary health care program in Asmat, southern Papua, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The program aimed to improve mother and child health care and access to basic and emergency medical care for these isolated communities. In 2007, over 5,500 consultations were conducted, 269 babies were delivered in the supported health facilities and an obstetric referral system was set up in case of emergency. Other activities in Asmat included the rehabilitation of the surgery room, the donation of surgery and medical materials and water and sanitation activities. In June, MSF handed over its tuberculosis activities in Ambon, in the Moluccan islands, to the local health authorities. This pilot project focused on a patient-centred approach and provided fixed drug combinations. It improved patients’ adherence to treatment and strengthened the counseling skills of local health staff. MSF has worked in Indonesia since 1995. |
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