RISING FROM THE RUBBLE – REBUILDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE JAVA EARTHQUAKE

As the volcano Mount Merapi started ominously to spew clouds of hot ash in April and the Yogyakarta communities braced themselves for the worst, few imagined they would have to simultaneously face the devastating effects of a powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale barely a month later. The earthquake killed 5,865 people and caused widespread loss of property and infrastructure. Four hundred thousand homes were either damaged or destroyed leaving thousands in makeshift shelters and tents.

As members of the Operation USA field team based in Banda Aceh, we were able to respond promptly to this disaster seven hours away in Yogyakarta to carry out preliminary assessments of the damage and needs of our partners. With more than 30,000 people injured, it was clear that providing emergency health care services was an urgent priority and Operation USA decided that this was an area where we could provide the most effective support and assistance through our partner, Australian Aid International, whose volunteer staff was tirelessly providing emergency healthcare.

Seeing an average of 200 patients a day, Australian Aid International provided services that could otherwise have been offered by the now destroyed local health clinic just meters away from the AAI field clinic. “About 70% of the patients we are seeing are the elderly and children”, says AAI nurse Sasha Poll, underlining the all too common fact that the more vulnerable members of society are always the ones hardest hit.

Once serving a population of more than 10,000, all that remains of the health clinic today is broken bricks and rubble. Return to the same location at the end of September and a new building will stand proudly in its place – slightly bigger and better than its predecessor. Rebuilding the health clinic has been made possible through the generosity of our donor The Sak and the dedication of our partner agency, AAI.

Although the number of patients has decreased since the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the need for efficient and expert healthcare services is no less urgent. “Do you want to see an interesting wound?” Sasha Poll asked looking up from examining a young man’s leg. When peering at the open wound, sure enough, a metal plate was clearly visible amidst the surrounding tissue. “He has been walking around with this for seven months since having the plate inserted as a result of a motorcycle accident”, Sasha explained. The wound never healed and the man never got the proper healthcare he needed. This is one of the reasons why simply building a health clinic is not enough. Training of health staff and enhancing their skills is a vital component of OpUSA supported health projects in Indonesia. Although the gentleman with the open leg wound had to be referred to the nearest hospital for an operation, increasing the capacity and the skills of the health clinic staff in Bantul will hopefully ensure that he receives the proper post-operative and follow-up care upon returning to his community.

To a secure on-line donation for Operation USA's relief efforts regarding the Indonesia Earthquake, please click here.