Abdurrahman begins medical checkup

MARYLAND, USA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid began his two- day medical checkup on Friday evening at John Hopkins hospital, where doctors conducted a sleep study on the President.

Head of the presidential medical team Umar Wahid emphasized that the President's health was excellent and that doctors at the hospital advised the President undergo the sleep study to ensure that his condition was fully under control.

Umar said the President did not have any sleep problems, "although he only sleeps for four hours a day". The study is not related to his habit of falling asleep during public appearances.

"The sleep study is needed to help his team of doctors keep him healthy. Sleep studies have become common practice in advanced countries," said Umar, who is President Abdurrahman's younger brother.

Umar said Abdurrahman had fully recovered from the two strokes he suffered, including the last one in 1998, which forced him to undergo neurosurgery at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Jakarta.

According to Umar, who has been Abdurrahman's private doctor since 1993, the President's blood pressure and diabetes were also under control and he (the President) did not have any specific complaints.

"I can say it is a miracle that he has recovered nearly 100 percent from the stroke," Umar noted.

The President's first visit to the hospital was in June. At that time, he also went to Salt Lake City, Utah, to check his eyes at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.

Abdurrahman underwent eye surgery at the hospital two months before he was elected president in October last year.

Doctors at the hospital then declared that his right eye was in good condition, although they indicated his vision would never return to normal.

Abdurrahman has lost almost total vision in his left eye.

When asked about the President's sight problem, Umar replied: "I cannot disclose anything about his eyesight problem without his permission. Not because he is a president but it is his right as the patient."

Abdurrahman is being accompanied by a team of Indonesian doctors, including neurologists Sidharta Ilyas and Jusuf Misbach, during the checkup.

"Gus Dur only has a slight problem with his weight, but I don't have the courage to advise him to reduce his weight because he will answer that I must reduce my own weight before instructing him to do so," Umar remarked.

First Lady Sinta Nuriyah and daughters Zannuba "Yenni" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman and Innayah Wulandari Rahman were also present.

The First Lady, who was half-paralyzed after a traffic accident in 1993, did not undergo medical treatment at the hospital. Her doctor, Rosiana Pradanasari Wirawan, is monitoring her condition during the trip.

Abdurrahman has visited almost 30 countries since he was elected president.

He arrived in Baltimore on Friday afternoon after attending the Millennium Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The President and his entourage are scheduled to leave for Jakarta on Sunday morning and will arrive in the capital on Tuesday. (prb)