RSTKA provides healthcare services in Flores Island, NTT
UNAIR NEWS – In 2023, Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital (RSTKA) is making its humanitarian voyage to East Indonesia again, starting from Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Protelindo, Fransseda Foundation, and Northstar Foundation supported RSTKA in carrying out several missions: screening for congenital heart disease, screening for stunting, and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Why East Nusa Tenggara? dr. Agus Harianto, Sp.B, the Director of RSTKA, explained that NTT is one of UNAIR’s target areas. RSTKA has not been able to reach far-flung areas, because it requires larger funding. One of RSTKA’s programs this time is to reduce the stunting rate. NTT is an area with a high stunting rate.
RSTKA fully collaborates with the government and health workers at regional hospitals. We must maintain faith and empathy to provide healthcare services to the island’s people. “Because Every Islander Is Valuable” is the theme for the 2023 RSTKA service.
The service in NTT was attended by 17 volunteers consisting of ENT, Obstetrics gynelocology, Pediatrics, Cardiology, Anesthesiology specialists, general practitioners, surgical nurses, pharmacists, and documentators.
In the first period on May 15 – June 3, 2023, RSTKA visited three cities: Nagekeo, Ende and Larantuka. RSTKA’s journey starts from Kalimas Port, Surabaya, on May 11, 2023, for three days to Labuan Bajo. The volunteers continued their overland journey to Nagekeo Regency for 12 hours by bus. Arriving in Nagekeo on May 15, 2023, at 23.30 WITA, government officials and several health workers at the Nagekeo Regent’s Office warmly welcomed the team of volunteers.
Nagekeo, taglined as: “The Heart of Flores”, is located in the middle of the island of Flores. The administrative center of Nagekeo Regency is located in Mbay. This area is a regency resulting from the division of Ngada Regency. During their activities in Nagekeo, the RSTKA team was based in the city center with a predominantly hilly and barren topography.
The service was started on May 16, 2023, RSTKA provides services to several locations: Aeramo Nagekeo Hospital, City Public Health Center (Puskesmas), Lape Integrated Health Services Post (Posyandu), Danga Posyandu, and Aeramo Posyandu. During the seven days of service at Aeramo Hospital, RSTKA opened several polyclinics and served 149 ENT patients, 91 patients in the pediatrics clinic, and 56 patients in the cardiology clinic. At the puskesmas and posyandu there were screening for 68 pregnant women and posyandu services for 108 children.
RSTKA also held Stunting Counseling, Ultrasound Training for general practitioners at health centers in Nagekeo district, and Junior Doctor Training for Hanura Danga Elementary School and Middle School.
Ende is famous as City of Pancasila. It is where first Indonesian President was exiled and came up with the initial ideas of Pancasila. At first glance, this city is more developed than the city of Nagekeo. The RSTKA team moved from Nagekeo to Ende by bus for 4 hours on May 21, 2023.
The services started Monday, May 22 2023, RSTKA provides services at Ende Hospital, Onekore Puskesmas, Potulando, Kelimutu, and Mautapaga Village. During the 5 days of service at Ende Hospital, RSTKA served 216 ENT patients, 220 patients in the neurology clinic, and 23 patients in the cardiology clinic. At the puskesmas and posyandu there were ANC and USG services for 14 pregnant women and stunting screening for 64 children. Bakti in Ende volunteers also held stunting counseling, ultrasound training for 15 general practitioners at community health centers in Ende regency, and PPGDON Training with 57 participants.
RSTKA visited Larantuka, the capital of East Flores sub-district, located at the eastern tip of Flores Island. Larantuka is well-known as a spiritual tourism destination for Catholics. A small town located at the foot of Mount Mandiri. Larantuka was also a kingdom and was the first Catholic Christian kingdom to stand on Flores. The Portuguese brought the teachings of Christianity to Larantuka in the 15th century.
After traveling by land, completing their service in Ende, RSTKA volunteers headed for Maumere to continue their ten-hour sea voyage to Larantuka. While in East Flores, the RSTKA ship will dock at Larantuka Port, from May 29 to June 3, 2023.
There is something special about the service in East Flores. RSTKA collaborated with the Surabaya Tritya Eye Clinic to provide free eye surgery services to the people of Larantuka. It was held on May 30-31 at dr. Hendrikus Fernandez Larantuka General Hospital. dr. Armanto Sidohutomo, Sp.M (K) from the Surabaya Tritya Eye Clinic led the team. There were two ophthalmologists, one resident ophthalmologist, and 30 other health workers. Overall the team has successfully screened 267 patients and then operated on 45 pterygium patients and 82 cataract patients.
Meanwhile, other healthcare services took place at the Oka Puskesmas, Pantai Besar community, and Lewolere community. During five days of service at dr. Hendrikus Fernandez Hospital, RSTKA served 118 ENT patients. Then, 17 patients in the cardiology clinic and 9 patients received echocardiography services. Then, the program to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates at the puskesmas and posyandu carried out ANC services and ultrasound for 51 pregnant women, stunting screening for 48 children, ultrasound training for 19 general practitioners at puskesmas in Ende district, and PPGDON training which 31 participants attended.
In this period, RSTKA visited Flores Island. Some volunteers returned home to be replaced with new volunteers who served in the second period to other islands in NTT. RSTKA opens donations and collaborates with various parties. Health problems in remote islands are still too big for RSTKA to handle alone. So with this service, RSTKA tries to be the initiator in improving health services, especially in the archipelago. (*)
Source : unair.ac.id/en/rstka-provides-healthcare-services-in-flores-island-ntt
