Social Service in East Sumba, Minister of Social Affairs Encourages People for Caring Each Other

EAST SUMBA (May 20, 2024) - The Ministry of Social Affairs held a Social Service in East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, from Saturday (5/18) until today. In collaboration with the Bakti Luhur Foundation, Cendana Foundation, Umbu Rara Mehang Hospital, and Lewa Community Health Center, the social service involved 47 medical and health workers consisting of six psychiatrists, three general practitioners, one dentist as well as 20 nurses and 17 physiotherapists.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini paid particular attention to handling People with Mental Disorders (ODGJ) because there are 305 people in the district who have been handled in this social service. For the handling of ODGJ, Social Affairs Minister Risma suggested that the most effective treatment pattern following community conditions is through monthly injections (long-acting) to people with ODGJ. "Please recalculate the ODGJ and check the availability of drugs. Then try to calculate whether the amount is sufficient or not and check again how to store it, do not damage the medicine," said Minister of Social Affairs Risma in East Sumba (19/5) while adding that the Ministry of Social Affairs is supported by six psychiatrists from Jakarta along with equipment and medicines needed by ODGJ.

The Minister also paid attention to 88 leprosy sufferers in the district. Social Affairs Minister Risma coordinates the availability of medicine with the East Sumba Regency Government and the Ministry of Health and intervenes to increase the immune system of leprosy sufferers, their families, and their environment. The interventions include providing 50 laying hens ready to lay eggs to each community; personal hygiene kits, clothing, and eating utensils were also provided, as well as clean water facilities as a prevention effort and hygiene intervention for leprosy sufferers.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini also provided full support for cataract surgery, which was carried out in collaboration with the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (Perdami) and Himpunan Bersatu Teguh. Out of 334 who registered, there are 187 beneficiaries passed the screening for cataract surgery in Baksos and they were handled by six ophthalmologists. On the first day, cataract surgery was performed on 79 people and continued on the following day. "We cannot take cataract disease lightly because the loss of vision can have an economic effect on cataract sufferers and their families," said Social Affairs Minister Risma. Since becoming Minister of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs has operated on more than 7,000 cataract sufferers throughout the country. The Ministry of Social Affairs helps 51 people with visual disabilities in the district medically and in terms of empowerment because the sense of sight is matter for everyone.

In this event, the Ministry of Social Affairs also conducted an audio assessment of 213 people. From the assessment results, 165 beneficiaries (PM) received hearing aids (ABD), while the rest were declared healthy. However, there were also those whose ears were infected and oozing fluid, so they had to be healed first.

Social service, which received an enthusiastic response from the people of East Sumba, was also filled with the handover of aids for 53 physical disabilities, such as crutches, three-legged sticks, various wheelchairs (for adults/children, cerebral palsy, and adaptive), prosthetic limbs, and hand aids. The various assistance was handed over at the Lewa Community Health Center. "The various assistance is very useful for the community. The presence of the Minister of Social Affairs means a lot to us. Your presence has increased our enthusiasm to improve services to the community," said the Head of Puskesmas Lewa Martha Lu Ndawa.

Minister of Social Affairs Risma said that all parties must continue to increase their concern for the surrounding environment. "Why is this activity held in Lewa District? I hope everyone can pay attention to each other. Maybe not our relatives. Like me, not your direct relatives. But as Minister of Social Affairs, I have an obligation to do so," said Social Affairs Minister Risma to all the people present to care more about the surrounding environment.

Social Affairs Minister Risma said a person's concern can bring change to that person and even the surrounding environment. Social Affairs Minister Risma noted that she visited East Sumba because she responded to the story of a child who was sick and the grandmother who took care of him died. The Minister of Social Affairs also visited the child. From there, Risma discovered many other cases that needed mutual attention in East Sumba.

Starting from the response to the case, the Ministry of Social Affairs can now organize Social Services that benefit more people in East Sumba Regency. Hundreds of beneficiaries consisting of people with mental disorders (ODGJ), people with cataracts, people with leprosy, and people with disabilities received various kinds of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. In addition, there is also therapy for people with disabilities and free health checks for the community, especially older people.