"Dharma Guna" Center Responds Quickly to Five Different Cases in South Bengkulu Regency

BENGKULU (February 19, 2023) - The "Dharma Guna" Center in Bengkulu responded to four cases of children who had health problems since birth. The four children are Atharrazka Albiru Sanatria, Alicia Zhafira Bramana, Gheby, and Annisa. Another adult, Yulian Efendi, suffered a fire accident.

This step is a follow-up to the direction of Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini so that all levels of the Ministry of Social Affairs are responsive to the problems faced by the community.

In line with that, Head of the "Dharma Guna" Center in Bengkulu Syam Wuryani instructed her staff to respond to the five residents of North Bengkulu Regency. "The Center team has conducted an assessment of the five people. The center also helps facilitate their access to health services," said Syam Wuryani, Sunday (19/02).

Atharrazka was born without an eyeball and palate. Since his birth on December 1, 2022, Athar has been undergoing treatment for ten days at Asy-Syifa Hospital in South Bengkulu. He suffered from shortness of breath and had difficulty consuming milk because he had no palate.

As for Alicia, since she was born, she did not have a drain organ or anus so it had to be made through her stomach.

The third case was Gheby (7.5). Since she was 6 months old, she has been diagnosed with a leaky heart. Late last year, the first-grade elementary school student was accidentally hit by a friend's fist and had to be treated at Damrah Hospital in South Bengkulu.

The fourth case was Annisa (14). This junior high school student had abnormalities in her spleen, blood circulation and growth and development. Her body was short and her stomach was enlarged. Her face looked like an elderly person.

"These four children come from underprivileged families. So, when they have to access health services, their parents are constrained by the cost," said Syam Wuryani.

Currently, Athar's parents need money for further examination at M. Yunus Hospital in Bengkulu City. For Alicia, she was referred to M. Hoesin Hospital in Palembang for an operation to create a drain through the abdomen after she turned 7 months old. However, due to her declining health condition, the surgery was not carried out. Now that her condition has stabilized, the lack of money is an obstacle to the surgery.

For Gheby, doctors at Damrah Regional Hospital in South Bengkulu and M. Yunus Regional Hospital recommended surgery at Harapan Kita Hospital in Jakarta. Again, cost was an issue.

During the first visit, the Sentra "Dharma Guna" team in Bengkulu provided assistance to the four PPKS in the form of basic food packages (rice, cooking oil, sardines, eggs), ADL equipment (laundry soap, bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo), nutritional needs (milk, biscuits, honey, multivitamins, fruit juice, fresh bread, jam), and clothing equipment.

"In addition, we also actively coordinate with referral hospitals, both at M. Yunus Hospital in Bengkulu, Hoesin Hospital in Palembang, Harapan Kita Hospital in Jakarta and Sentra partners in Palembang, as well as in Jakarta so that they gets services immediately," Syam Wuryani explained.

The team also responded to the case of Yulian Efendi. This 54-year-old man was a victim of a fire, on February 2, 2023. The red rooster completely burned down the house, along with its contents. Luckily, there were no fatalities.

Currently, Yulian, his wife and two children live in a nearby family. A simple house is being built with the help of BAZNAS and the surrounding community.

The "Dharma Guna" center in Bengkulu provided emergency assistance in the form of basic necessities (rice, oil, eggs, sardines), mattresses, pillows, blankets, bed linen, carpets, ADL equipment, kitchen utensils, cooking equipment, and school supplies.

"Hopefully this assistance can slightly reduce the burden on the lives of the five families," said Syam Wuryani.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI