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Sunday, 07 October 2007 |
Nias Island lies about 125km off the western coast of Sumatra on the
Indian Ocean and is part of North Sumatra Province. Its sparkling white
sandy beaches and sea activities such as scuba diving and surfing are
the main tourist attractions. The island has some prehistoric remains
that were built during megalithic stone-age.
 When this beautiful island was ravaged by major flood and landslides in Aug 2001, MERCY Malaysia was the first foreign medical team to arrive. Our team of doctors provided emergency medical care and counselling to the victims. Food distribution and supplements for malnourished children were also given.
On 29 March 2005, an earthquake of 8.7 on the Richter scale shook Nias Island at around 10am. As a result, 2,000 people perished. Up to 90% of ots buildings and infrastructure was destroyed.
Medican Aid: Emergency Medical Servuces, Primary Health Care, Medical Evacuation
MERCY Malaysia deployed a team from Malaysia and another team was mobilised from Aceh. Our medical volunteers performed emergency medical procedures at the Triage Centre which was stet up at Binaka Airport. MERCY Malaysia worked closely with Pasukan Perubatan MAKASSAR, Japan AMDA from Japan, Team Medan, Indonesian Red Cross and Bulan Sabit Merah Indonesia.
The earthquake in Nias caused a collapse in communications as well as road access to medical aid. MERCY Malaysia's medical volunteers provided emergency medical relief and evacuation using its chartered helicopter primarily in three areas of Lahewa, Afulu and Faighuna.
Mobile clinics were also provided from the fourth day, and up to 200 people were attended to daily for treatment and surgery.
MERCY Malaysia partnered with Shelterbox, United Kingdom, to distribute much needed tents and essential survival items to the people affected by the earthquake.
MERCY Malaysia was invited to present a masterplan for the health services in Nias Island and formulated the revitalisation of medical infrastructure for the island in December 2005.
The masterplan was developed in partnership with the Indonesian government and World Health Organisation (WHO). It was accepted and adopted by the local authorities on 25 December 2005.
MERCY Malaysia was appointed by Badan Rekontruksi dan Rehabilitasi (BRR) in Indonesia to manage the masterplan for the reconstruction of the Rumah Sakit Umum (RSU) Gunung Sitoli in Nias (main referral hospital in Nias). We became the first organisation to receive a grant from the multi-donor Recovery of Aceh and Nias Trust Fund (RNTF) for the rebuilding of Phase 1 & 2.
2006 saw the completion of the reconstruction of two community health centres that we had commenced the previous year. The PUKESMAS Plus Awa'i was completed in July 2006 and launched on 28th of August 2006, while PUSKESMAS Gido was completed in December 2006 and handed over to Dinas Kesihatan Nias in the same month. Both centres also received a donation of one dental set unit each.
MERCY Malaysia also ran primary healthcare services at the PUSKESMAS Plus Awa'i duting the launch and provided dental and circumcision services.
 
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