"Gau Mabaji" Elderly Center Distributes Accessibility Aid for Elderly Victims of the Earthquake

MAJENE (January 29, 2021) - The Gau Mabaji Elderly Social Rehabilitation Center (BRSLU) in Gowa provides accessibility assistance to two elderly victims of the earthquake in Majene Regency.

After previously dispatching a case response team to provide basic needs assistance to disaster victims in Majene Regency, now based on a complaint from the Directorate of Social Protection and Security (Linjamsos) on duty at the Malunda Sub-district Command Post, Mamuju Regency, the team was again deployed to provide accessibility assistance to the elderly.

Based on the complaint, information was obtained that there were two elderly earthquake victims who needed wheelchairs to carry out daily activities. Elderly people with impaired mobility find it difficult to reach the bathroom which is quite far from the evacuee camp.

Risnalianti, the nurse who is one of the teams that distributed aid, said that in addition to helping the mobility of the elderly, the need for wheelchairs was also used to prevent the deterioration of the elderly's health condition.

“Elderly who are constantly lying in evacuee camps are at risk of developing decubitus wounds due to prolonged pressure and other diseases. In addition, this also triggers the possibility of depression in the elderly due to disaster trauma,” said Risna.

Seeing the many possibilities for the occurrence of bad impacts of disasters on vulnerable groups, handling vulnerable groups must be a priority.

"Providing accessibility assistance for the elderly is a form of priority for handling vulnerable groups affected by the earthquake in Majene Regency," added Risna.

Demma (76 years old) and Marung (84 years old) who have lived for more than two weeks in the evacuee camp conveyed their gratitude to the “Gau Mabaji” Elderly Center in Gowa.

"We are very grateful for the wheelchair assistance provided so that it helps us to the bathroom and walk around the post," said Demma.

The distribution of accessibility assistance is a form of state attention through the Ministry of Social Affairs by fulfilling the rights of the elderly.