Muhammadiyah Supports the Construction of a Hospital in East Lombok

East Lombok (ANTARA) - Secretary-General of the Central Executive Board of Muhammadiyah, Abdul Mu’ti, stated that his organisation supports the construction of the Muhammadiyah Hospital in East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), to help communities in need of healthcare services.

“This hospital is proof that Muhammadiyah is determined and cannot be stopped,” said Abdul Mu’ti during the inauguration of the Muhammadiyah Hospital in East Lombok on Sunday.

He admitted that he was very aware of the ups and downs and struggles involved in building the hospital. “I followed the dynamics, and I also prayed from afar for this hospital to be realised,” he said.

According to him, projects often start with small funds but can be completed because of shared intentions and efforts to realise development that benefits society.

“Once Muhammadiyah has a goal, it is difficult to stop. Sometimes there is only a slight difference between intention and determination. A plan of IDR 100 billion, starting with IDR 100 million, but it was still completed,” he said.

He said that Muhammadiyah is now developing a strong system to help the vulnerable. The hospitals in North Lombok and East Lombok are examples of this.

“Assistance with equipment, ambulances and ongoing support are being carried out so that healthcare reaches communities who have difficulty accessing facilities,” he said.

Abdul Mu’ti, who is also the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), also highlighted the importance of building a healthy lifestyle culture, not just building hospitals.

He quoted data from the Ministry of Health which shows that there are three dominant health problems in school children, including teeth, eyes and ears, due to unhealthy eating habits, excessive use of gadgets and lack of physical activity.

“It is better to build a healthy society and a healthy environment than just building hospitals,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor of NTB, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, expressed his appreciation for the establishment of the Muhammadiyah Hospital in East Lombok.

“This hospital is planned to start operating in October 2026, let’s support it to improve healthcare services for the community,” he said.

He said that if Muhammadiyah builds something, it will definitely be realised, such as the construction of a hospital in East Lombok Regency.

With the full knowledge and resources available at Muhammadiyah, it is sufficient to develop the hospital, and he is optimistic that this hospital will develop and benefit all communities in East Lombok.

“Just having the intention can build something, like the construction of the Muhammadiyah Hospital in East Lombok,” he said.