Soeharto's health on the mend: Doctor
Soeharto's health on the mend: Doctor
JAKARTA (JP): Doctors said on Saturday that former president
Soeharto was on the mend four days after he was admitted to
Pertamina Hospital for a mild stroke.
Hospital director Sudjono Martoadmodjo said Soeharto no longer
felt dizzy and had stop vomiting. Intensive physiotherapy
sessions were being held to help the 78-year-old former strongman
regain the use of his right hand and right leg.
"His speech is improving, his fingers and right arm are
stronger, the strength of his right leg is almost normal,"
Sudjono said in a statement.
The former first family used two VVIP rooms and one VIP room,
which cost Rp 1 million (about US$145) and Rp 375,000 per day
respectively.
Former state minister of food Ibrahim Hasan, who visited
Soeharto on Saturday, said doctors also had removed Soeharto's
intravenous drip. According to him, Soeharto was also able to say
the Dhuha (morning) prayer while lying in bed.
"I saw Pak Harto saying the Dhuha prayer while lying down. He
put his hands on his chest (in prayer)," Ibrahim said as quoted
by Antara.
Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardiyanti Rukmana
told Ibrahim that her father would soon leave the hospital and
continue his medical treatment at home on Jl. Cendana in Menteng
area, Central Jakarta.
His son Sigit Harjojudanto said Soeharto's children did not
have any plans to take their father abroad for further medical
treatment. He pointed out, however, they would take into account
any recommendations by Soeharto's medical team.
"It all depends on the team's recommendations," he said.
In July 1996, upon the recommendation of then state minister
of research and technology B.J. Habibie, Soeharto went to Germany
for a medical checkup in the spa town of Bad Oeynhausen. Habibie
himself previously had a heart operation there.
Soeharto's residence is equipped with sophisticated medical
equipment, placed there following the demise of his wife Tien
Soeharto in April 1996 at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central
Jakarta. Soeharto also had special facilities built for him at
Pertamina Hospital then because he was not satisfied with the
facilities at the Army hospital.
Meanwhile, five people who claimed to have supernatural powers
visited the former president on Saturday morning at the request
of Soeharto's daughter.
"We came here at the request of Mbak Tutut," Mas Haryo
Panuntun, one of the five, told Antara.
He said they went to see Soeharto after receiving four
telephone calls from Soeharto's daughter. However, they could not
meet with the patient.
"We will come again on Monday when he can speak to us," Mas
Haryo said. (prb)