This article was updated on January 3.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing emergency medical care to survivors of the tsunami that struck Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on December 22, supporting health centers in Labuan and Carita, operating mobile clinics to reach patients who cannot access health facilities, and conducting medical follow-ups for the growing numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs).
“MSF has set up two types of emergency medical teams, fixed and mobile,” explains Dr. Dirna Mayasari, MSF deputy medical coordinator. “We are supporting the existing health centers and visiting the affected populations in the communities. In the health centers, MSF is providing medical care as well as ensuring that infection prevention control protocols are in place.” The MSF team has also initiated provision of psychological first aid for some admitted patients and will roll out a mental health program in the coming weeks.
On January 1, torrential rains flooded some of the affected areas in Labuan sub-district, worsening the situation.
As of January 2, MSF has conducted 472 medical consultations and treatments. MSF has also provided care to 20 pregnant mothers and conducted medical follow-ups with 15 patients. The most common medical cases include upper respiratory tract infections, muscle pain, accidental trauma, and skin infections. Medicine stocks in local health centers have been depleted, and more resources are needed to support medical services.
The mobile clinic has reached 15 villages, providing wound care, antenatal care, and treatment of chronic illnesses, among other services, to patients unable to reach medical facilities.
To date, the MSF team consists of 25 people, including doctors, nurses, health promoters, a midwife, a counselor, and logistics and human resources personnel.
There is an urgent need for effective medical follow-up for trauma patients and those with chronic diseases, antenatal and postnatal care as well as safe delivery for pregnant mothers, and early detection of possible disease outbreaks. MSF has also assessed the limited access to safe water and toilet facilities in most of the evacuation shelters. As the rainy season continues, the improvement of hygiene and sanitation services and food delivery systems and the provision of blankets and sheets are also priorities. We are coordinating with local authorities to help address these needs.
In Panimbang sub-district, in southern Pandeglang, an MSF team conducted an initial rapid assessment of the needs in remote villages, where many people displaced by the tsunami are now scattered among host communities in the hills. “This [region] is one of the worst-affected areas and [is] difficult to reach,” said Dr. Nyi Wynn Soe, MSF medical coordinator. “There are many affected people in this area who have not yet received medical care and support.” The team treated and referred some patients during the assessment and will consider an expansion of medical activities in the region based on the results.
