Government Sends Aid to Restore Health Services in Sumatra

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia received and handed over medical equipment donations to support the recovery of health services after hydrometeorological disasters across Sumatra. The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia office in Jakarta on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

As quoted by a written statement, the donations resulted from collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the North Sumatra Youth group through a community-based fundraising initiative. The initiative was led by Pahala Nugraha Mansury, Bara Hasibuan, Veranita Yosephine Sinaga, and several other volunteers.

Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, expressed appreciation for the concern and contributions demonstrated by all donors. He emphasized the importance of collective efforts in accelerating the restoration of affected healthcare facilities and services.

“Collaboration between the government and the community like this is very important in accelerating the recovery of post-disaster health services, especially at community health centers which serve as the frontline of public health services,” Minister Budi said.

He also conveyed that the government had allocated recovery funding for affected hospitals after the disaster. Support for community health centers continues to be strengthened through broader collaboration and additional budget proposals.

The donated medical equipment included forty digital blood pressure monitors, forty anthropometry kits, and forty dry sterilizers. The assistance package also contained forty three-crank patient beds, forty adult stethoscopes, six fogging devices, and eight dental units.

The medical equipment assistance will be distributed to community health centers across eight disaster-affected regencies and municipalities. These areas include Aceh Tamiang Regency, North Aceh Regency, East Aceh Regency, Central Aceh Regency, Langkat Regency, Central Tapanuli Regency, South Tapanuli Regency, and Agam Regency.

Meanwhile, representing the North Sumatra Youth donors, Bara Hasibuan, said that the donations originated from a charity run conducted during early 2026. The event involved approximately two thousand participants and successfully collected funds to support recovery efforts in disaster-affected areas of Aceh and North Sumatra.

On the same occasion, Acting Head of the Health Office of East Aceh Regency, Rijalul Fikri, expressed appreciation for receiving the donated medical equipment assistance. According to him, the assistance significantly supports efforts to strengthen healthcare services, especially in disaster-affected communities.

Rijalul Fikri added that the Lokop Community Health Center in East Aceh still requires complete reconstruction support because it serves as an inpatient facility located in one of the most remote areas of East Aceh Regency. He stated that although health centers have resumed normal operations, facility improvements and strengthening efforts remain necessary.

Chairperson of the Hydrometeorological Disaster Rehabilitation Task Force for Sumatra, Sumarjaya, stated that the activity represented concrete partnership between government institutions and society in addressing health crises. The Ministry of Health continues encouraging stronger national health system resilience through cross-sector collaboration involving community participation and business support for disaster-affected regions.