Jakarta (ANTARA) - Around 414 of roughly 500 local health centers, known as puskesmas, in disaster-hit areas of Sumatra have resumed operations, while about 50 remain closed due to damage, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday, underscoring progress in restoring essential public services after weeks of flooding and landslides.
“These puskesmas are vital for meeting the health needs of residents who remain in their homes as well as nearly 800,000 people staying at evacuation posts. We need continued support, Sir, to ensure these services can function optimally,” Sadikin told President Prabowo Subianto during a plenary cabinet meeting on December 15.
The minister also briefed the president on the condition of hospitals across affected provinces, saying the situation had improved significantly since the disasters first struck in late November. Damage to health facilities had initially disrupted access to emergency and routine medical care in several districts.
“On November 26, 41 hospitals were not operating. As of December 15, thank God, 100 percent have resumed operations, although in stages,” Sadikin said.
Emergency departments reopened first, followed by operating rooms. He added that Tanjung Pura Hospital in Langkat, the last facility to restart services, is now fully operational after extensive cleaning to remove mud and flood debris.
Flash floods and landslides hit multiple districts and cities in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. As of December 15, authorities reported 1,030 deaths, with 206 people still missing.
The number of evacuees stood at 608,940, many of whom continue to rely on temporary shelters and emergency assistance.
The Health Ministry said it is prioritizing the reopening of the remaining damaged puskesmas within the next two weeks to ensure uninterrupted access to primary healthcare and to support medical services at evacuation centers, where the risk of disease outbreaks remains a concern.
Earlier, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto said 321 personnel from the military’s Health Task Force had been deployed to disaster-affected areas in Sumatra and Aceh to reinforce civilian medical services.
Beyond treating physical injuries, Health Task Force personnel are also providing trauma-healing support, particularly for children and vulnerable groups, as authorities seek to address the longer-term psychological impact of one of the deadliest disaster episodes in the region in recent years.
