Abdurrahman begins medical checkup

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)