Social Affairs Minister Assists Treatment of Two Lampung Residents

LAMPUNG (22 June 2023) -- Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini met the families of Arma Wulan Sari (17), a student who had a brain hemorrhage and Suranto (54), who had skin cancer. Their conditions were found by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) through media scanning. They immediately received treatment afterwards.

"Thanks to information from the media and social media so that we can help ease the burden on Wulan and Suranto," said the Minister at the Radisson Hotel, Bandar Lampung, Thursday, (22/6).

The Minister said that both of them had received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs and donations from good people. The assistance received is operational assistance that is not covered by the Social Security Agency on Health (BPJS).

"Most of the treatment is covered by the BPJS, but other expenses are not covered by the BPJS. So this is why I asked for help from kitabisa.com. Now we're handing it over while I'm in Lampung," she said.

The Minister said that Arma and Suranto families were also given business assistance so they could have the income to care for the two of them. "MoSA usually assists in the form of transportation costs. As for the treatment, we registered them with BPJS. Previously, they also asked for business capital so we gave them a little money for operational costs," the Minister added.

Arma Wulan Sari had an accident that resulted in bleeding in the brain. Arma who is currently in her first grade of high school was diagnosed with an Organic Mental Disorder that affects communication skills and causes behavioral disturbances. Arma underwent surgery on 15 September 15 2022 at a cost borne by Jasaraharja of IDR 20 million. Meanwhile, it is predicted by the hospital that the treatment will cost approximately IDR 30-40 million, so there is still a difference in operating costs of IDR 10-20 million.

Arma's father, Arman (58), works as a farm laborer where he lives in Kusa Village, Kota Agung District, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province. With an irregular income, he found it difficult to pay for treatment. Moreover, Arma is required to undergo therapy.

MoSA through the Inten Soeweno Integrated Center in Bogor provided operational assistance during the treatment process. In addition, MoSA also performed some advocacy so that BPJS can cover the treatment. MoSA then provided business assistance in the form of a chicken noodle stall to increase family income and trained Arma to help sell the noodles. Her mother used to run this business but stopped because her capital ran out.

As for Arma, she received Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) in the form of clothing, nutrition, basic needs, health care costs, and business capital of IDR 18 million. Meanwhile, Kitabisa.com has collected IDR 49.2 million for Arma’s donations.

Suranto has been a patient with facial cancer for the last 10 years. This resident of Kalidadi Village, Kalirejo District, Central Lampung, has undergone 4 operations, but his condition has not improved. All operating costs are borne by premium BPJS.

However, since 2019, the medical treatment has not been carried out because he has not paid the third class BPJS for his four family members, as much as IDR 140 thousand per month. His premium BPJS's arrears until March 2023 amount to IDR 2.97 million.

Suranto used to work as a corn plantation laborer with a wage of IDR 25,000 per day. Meanwhile, his wife, Mariyam (48) once sold Indonesian traditional salad in front of their house with an average daily net income of IDR 40,000. After Suranto became ill, his wife stopped selling the salad, because she cared for her husband and ran out of business capital.

MoSA through the Wyata Guna Center in Bandung intervened by fulfilling the basic needs of groceries and nutrition, BPJS repayment money assistance, and helping process the transfer from premium BPJS to National Health Insurance.

MoSA provided ATENSI assistance in the form of fulfillment of basic needs worth IDR 11 million, while from kitabisa.com it was IDR 70.1 million.