RSKKA Team advances post-disaster recovery

In the aftermath of flash floods and landslides that hit Sumatra, recovery operations remain underway, driven by volunteers from various institutions. Among those involved are volunteers from the Ksatria Airlangga Hospital Ship (RSKKA), working alongside a network of university-based volunteers under the Agam Regency Disaster Medical Team (DMT). Together, they have continued to hold discussions and coordinate closely to ensure that post-disaster recovery efforts in affected areas are carried out effectively and strategically.

These coordination activities coincided with a visit by the Director of Institutional Affairs at the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Khairul Munadi, ST, MEng. The visit took place on Friday (12/12/2025) at the Agam DMT command post. At the same time, the team also worked with the Agam Regency Health Office, which operates a Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), to assess and map the medical needs of local communities.

Field Coordinator dr. Rizky Loviana Roza, SpAn, said the volunteers coordinated not only with the local health office but also with the most fundamental healthcare providers in the region, community health centers (puskesmas). “At the grassroots level, responsibility for healthcare services lies with the puskesmas. We also coordinated with other universities that deployed volunteers to the command post in Lubuk Basung,” she explained.

“We aligned our efforts to ensure that the medical personnel deployed matched the specific needs of each area. As a result of this coordination, we also established a post at the Puskesmas Malalak,” dr. Roza added.She noted that strengthening coordination among volunteer teams was essential in overcoming severe access challenges to isolated communities. “Access routes to villages and residential areas were cut off. Around three to four hamlets became inaccessible, leaving residents unable to reach puskesmas because roads were blocked by landslides,” she said.

As a result of these coordinated efforts, the team agreed to work closely with relevant government agencies, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), as well as participating universities in Agam Regency. This collaboration led to the establishment of a 24-hour command post and the provision of specialist medical services at the Malalak Community Health Center. In addition, the team carried out home visits for patients who were unable to access healthcare independently due to continued isolation.