Simple Request from Hydrocephalus Sufferer to Governor Iqbal Touches Hearts

Dust swirled in the wind beside the home of Ahmad Yani (40). The modestly fenced house he shares with his mother stands as a silent witness to his decades-long struggle against hydrocephalus. The resident of Kereak Hamlet, Pandan Indah Village, Praya Barat Daya District, has been bedridden since he was about 10 years old due to his illness. According to his mother, Ahmad Yani was still able to play with his friends when he was young. “He has suffered since birth. When he was 8, Yani could still play with his friends,” recalled Sriyani, Ahmad Yani’s mother, when visited by West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal at their home on Monday (27/7/2026). Amid economic hardship, Sriyani, who works odd jobs, has never complained about caring for her son. They live in a dilapidated house where Ahmad Yani spends his days. Ahmad Yani hopes his house can be repaired to make it more habitable while he undergoes treatment. “Besides having our house repaired, I would like to ask the Governor for a sound system to listen to the radio or music,” said Ahmad Yani with a smile. The request was not without reason. Ahmad Yani, who lives alone with his mother, spends his days accompanied by music from his mobile phone. Music serves as a simple comfort that keeps the 40-year-old man’s spirits up as he battles his disease. Not far from Ahmad Yani’s house, hydrocephalus also affects Nadira Octavany Putri. The eight-month-old baby is now being cared for by both her parents. In her mother’s lap, Nadira’s soft laughter began to be heard. The baby embodies her parents’ steadfastness in supporting their child through treatment. “Since birth, my child Nadira has been ill. She was only 3 months old when she had surgery at NTB Regional General Hospital,” said Sri Rahni (35), Nadira’s mother. After the operation, Sri Rahni and her husband routinely take Nadira for check-ups at NTB Provincial Hospital every three months. Nadira last underwent an examination on 16 July 2026. “Now she is an outpatient. There has been improvement; her head circumference has reduced from 53 cm to 49 cm. It has started to get a bit smaller,” she said. NTB Provincial Hospital Director Asrul Sani confirmed that Nadira’s condition continues to show progress after the surgery. When meeting Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, Nadira appeared to be more active. “Post-surgery, her condition has improved and she has started to be active like a typical baby. But her head is still heavy,” he said. Asrul stated that a medical team remains on standby to monitor Nadira’s condition. Her parents have also been given an emergency contact should it be needed at any time. All of Nadira’s medical expenses are covered through the BPJS programme. Unlike Nadira, Ahmad Yani has never received treatment from a neurosurgeon. When he was young, specialist neurosurgery services were very limited in NTB. “For Ahmad Yani, the treatment is carried out conservatively, focusing on administering medication and routine monitoring to maintain his health condition,” Asrul said. According to Asrul, time cannot be turned back to change Ahmad Yani’s past condition. However, the NTB Provincial Government has ensured that medical services and support will continue to be provided to both Ahmad Yani and Nadira. Observing the conditions of Ahmad Yani and Nadira, NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal stressed that hydrocephalus treatment must be tailored to the patient’s age. “One is indeed over 40 years old, so we are now thinking about how to ensure his health can be properly monitored. But the other is 8 months old, so there is still much we can do to improve her condition,” Iqbal said. Iqbal revealed that the number of hydrocephalus sufferers in Praya Barat Daya District is quite high. Over the past year, he said he has met nearly 15 sufferers in adjacent areas. “It seems there are indeed many hydrocephalus cases in this southern region. In the past year, I may have met almost 15 hydrocephalus sufferers, and all in the southern region, from Praya Barat Daya to Praya Barat,” Iqbal disclosed. For the former diplomat, the high number of hydrocephalus cases in southern Lombok is a phenomenon that requires scientific study. He noted that the situation reminded him of the high number of kidney disorder cases in Bima District. “This is a phenomenon similar to the kidney cases in Bima. Why are there so many? This likely needs a special study. I think I need to discuss this with health colleagues; what is the phenomenon here? Why are there so many hydrocephalus cases in this southern region? I don’t know, my knowledge doesn’t extend that far, and I honestly haven’t discussed hydrocephalus specifically. But this is a concern,” he stressed. Iqbal’s visit to Ahmad Yani and Nadira, he said, was not only to ensure medical treatment for both but also a first step in encouraging future prevention efforts. He hopes for a special study involving experts and medical personnel to uncover the causes of the high number of hydrocephalus cases in the southern region of Lombok. “Why are there so many? This phenomenon needs a special study. Whether it is due to high poverty levels or not, my knowledge doesn’t go that far,” Iqbal concluded.