Indonesian Field Hospital in Turkey Treats 1,928 Earthquake Victims

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Emergency Medical Team’s (EMT’s) field hospital in Hassa city, Hatay province, Turkey, has served 1,928 earthquake-affected residents as of the ninth day of its operation.

According to a statement received from the Indonesian embassy in Ankara on Saturday, the team started operating the field hospital on February 15, 2023.

The EMT has been treating around 200 patients each day since then -- surpassing the estimated capacity of around 150 patients per day.

"It seems that they (residents) are comfortable seeking treatment from the Indonesian EMT. Stories about the convenient service at Indonesian EMT have spread by word of mouth," deputy chief of the Indonesian EMT, Corona Rintawan, said.

Although his team has set operational hours, it is still providing services to patients arriving outside the operational hours. It is allowing people from remote locations or those engaged in emergency response activities during the day to also get health services.

"About 70 percent of the patients of the EMT have reported respiratory problems. Probably, it is caused by the (cold) weather, (inadequate) shelter conditions, and dust due to the ongoing process of removing the (building) debris," Rintawan said.

In addition to carrying out medical treatment at the field hospital, the team is providing mobile health services to residents of surrounding villages.

The team is also providing post-disaster psychosocial services to both adult and child victims of the quake at the field hospital.

“We have met many survivors who are experiencing acute stress due to the earthquake, especially after the aftershock with a magnitude of 6.4 (which) occurred a few days ago," the EMT’s psychiatrist, Era Catur Prasetya, informed.

The Indonesian EMT’s field hospital is one of the nine hospitals being operated by various countries in Hatay province -- the area that was most affected by the 7.8-magnitude temblor on February 6, 2023.

Apart from being known among the local community for their health services and logistical assistance, the Indonesian medical team members are also quite popular for their friendly service.

"The residents always say that they can feel Indonesian hospitality at (the field hospital of the) Indonesian EMT," said Ondy Rahmat Mulia, a diplomat assigned as a field coordinator at the Indonesian embassy in Ankara.

Mulia has been tasked with coordinating all activities of the Indonesian humanitarian mission in Hatay province.

ANTARA

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