Cabinet Secretary: President Ensures Maximum Healthcare Services in Outermost Regions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has given special attention to ensuring that healthcare services for the public are provided to the maximum extent possible, even in Indonesia’s outermost regions.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, when contacted from Jakarta on Saturday, said that President Prabowo headed directly to the Miangas Health Centre to discuss matters with health workers after landing on Miangas Island, North Sulawesi, on Saturday morning.
“During the inspection, the President discussed various healthcare service needs with the health workers so that the people on this outermost island can receive maximum services,” Teddy stated.
Miangas Island is Indonesia’s northernmost outermost region, bordering the Philippines.
Teddy explained that after discussing with the health workers and noting their various needs, the President decided that renovations would immediately be carried out on the healthcare facilities that have not been repaired for decades.
“In addition, the government will provide ambulances, add doctors and nurses, and provide professional allowances for health workers serving there,” he said.
The Miangas Health Centre is the main healthcare facility serving the entire community in that island region, so all its needs must be realised as quickly as possible.
During the visit, the President also greeted a pregnant woman who was undergoing a health check-up at the health centre.
The Head of the Miangas Health Centre, Dr Cefrilia Pesik, said that President Prabowo’s visit was an opportunity for health workers to directly convey the conditions and healthcare service needs in that RI border region.
“There are several things that have been heard by the President, including the state of the health centre and what is needed at our health centre. Hopefully, the President and the Minister of Health can fulfil our requests for the needs at the Miangas Health Centre,” Dr Cefrilia stated.
Meanwhile, one of the nurses who has been actively serving for 35 years on Miangas Island, Albert Nusa, explained that healthcare services in the outermost region are running well.
However, according to him, there are still several challenges faced, particularly regarding the limited number of health workers and the process of referring emergency patients.
“If there is an emergency patient, we have to handle it on site. If it requires hospital treatment, then it certainly requires facilities. If the ship comes only once a week, then the challenge we face is the urgency,” he said.
In addition, Albert also conveyed the need for supporting healthcare facilities, from ambulances for patient referrals to vaccine storage.
Despite facing various limitations, Albert said that health workers on Miangas Island continue to strive to provide the best services for the community.