Military roadblocks cause problems for hospitals

Military roadblocks cause problems for hospitals

JAKARTA (JP): Heavy barricades set up by the military along
some major roads in South and Central Jakarta on Wednesday not
only prevented people from going to their offices but also
hindered those seeking medical attention at hospitals in the
restricted areas.

A top official at Budi Kemuliaan Maternity Hospital, Sri
Susilastuti, said that the barricades had resulted in nothing but
problems for the hospital's staff and patients.

"The barricades have hindered doctors and other employees
coming here. It also caused problems for patients who wanted to
come to or leave the hospital," she told The Jakarta Post.

Major thoroughfares leading to the State Palace were
barricaded by the military Wednesday in anticipation of possible
street rallies by students demanding the President to quit.

Budi Kemuliaan and Jakarta Hospital are the only hospitals
located within the main restricted areas along the blocked roads
of Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl.
Majapahit and other linking streets.

Sri said most of the hospital doctors and employees came to
work, though they had to walk a long way to reach the hospital on
Jl. Budi Kemuliaan in the middle of the barricaded roads of Jl.
Thamrin and Jl. Abdul Muis.

"I walked from Cideng (located at the other side of Jl. Abdul
Muis) and had to plead with soldiers to let me walk through the
roadblocks. I told them that I am a nurse and that I had to come
to the hospital, but one of the soldiers told me to go home
instead," she said.

Employees who were able to come in the morning likely had to
work longer than usual since their replacements probably could
not arrive for their night shifts, she said.

"That's OK. Many of us slept here for three nights during the
riots last week anyway," she added.

Unfortunately, Sri said, many parents have skipped the
hospital's regular examination day for babies because they could
not bring their babies to the area under current circumstances.

"We usually examine or immunize about 100 babies every
Wednesday. But today, there were only 24 babies who were brought
here by people who live in nearby areas," she said.

The number of women who came for medical checkups was also
less than usual, with only 11 as of 1 p.m. compared to 80 on
ordinary days, she added.

Sri said a few mothers with newborns had to carry their babies
while walking to the nearest nonbarricaded roads because their
husbands failed to ask soldiers for permission to let their taxis
pass the barricades and pick them up at the hospital.

At Jakarta Hospital on Jl. Garnisun, a narrow road linked to
the barricaded Jl. Sudirman, a doctor told the Post that few
patients came to the hospital.

Parlindungan Manik, head of the emergency unit, estimated that
the number of patients, both at the unit and the clinic, had
dropped 80 percent.

"I'm not sure about the number of patients in the clinic, but
in my unit alone, we have yet to get a patient. By comparison, we
usually serve 12 to 15 patients a day," he said. At about 3 p.m.,
however, his first patient, who lived at nearby Karet area,
walked in with a skin ailment.

A hospital employee who asked for anonymity said that no less
than 100 patients usually come to the hospital's clinic for
medical assistance each day.

"But less than 25 people came today," she said.

Another employee said that the clinic had unofficially closed
its operations early because of the lack of patients.

"We closed at 2 p.m. even though we are usually open until 8
p.m. But none of the doctors have left the hospital. They will
gladly serve any patient who comes in later." (cst)