TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono and deputy Navy chief of staff Vice Adm. Didit Herdiawan dispatched two warships to participate in the upcoming Sail Raja Ampat event from Tanjung Priok Marine Military Command in North Jakarta on Friday, August 8, 2014.
The two ships, KRI dr Soeharso-990 and KRI Surabaya-591, would set sail for Kendari, Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Sorong, Ambon, and Makassar, before returning to Jakarta.
According to the minister, “Operation Surya Bhaskara” aims at providing health, ecology and infrastructure services to Indonesians living in remote coastlines and islets. “These activities are really important as it helps those who live in isolated areas,” Agung said.
Health services will be provided aboard KRI Soeharso-990—an auxiliary warship with complete medical facilities on board. This 122-meter-long vessel is 22 meters wide, and is equipped with an emergency ICU, seven operating theaters, and other supporting medical facilities.
KRI Soeharso-990 list of crew also include medical experts, comprising general practitioners and specialists alike, meaning the warship will be able to provide medical care such as treatments for malaria, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, hernia, dental and mouth care, surgical services for cataract, cleft palate and family planning services.
KRI Surabaya-591, meanwhile, is on its fourth round-the-archipelago voyage. Carried out by the Indonesian Navy in conjunction with the National Maritime Scout Troops, the voyage sought to increase the scouts’ awareness of Indonesia’s maritime heritage and introduce them to Indonesia’s outer reaches.
Aside having a sneak-peek into the life on a warship, the scouts aboard KRI Surabaya-591 will also be given lectures on national awareness, sovereignty and Indonesia’s maritime heritage. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to attend Sail Raja Ampat on August 23, 2014.
INDRA WIJAYA
