The Ministry of Social Affairs also provides entrepreneurship assistance for her parents' grocery store

SUMENEP (January 29, 2023) - Her body is tiny. Her eyes were curious trying to find what was happening around her. In her mother's arms, Assyifa Aulia Susanti (3) observed the people who approached her.

At first, she seemed shy, but when she got to know each other, Syifa didn't hesitate to joke back. His smile bloomed when he was greeted by the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, who was present in the meeting room in Sumenep City District, Sumenep Regency, East Java.

Wearing a purple shirt and trousers, the adorable girl escaped her mother's arms and ran around, laughing cheerfully.

No one would have thought that Syifa was born without an anus (atresia ani). Syifa's parents only discovered this condition when she was four months old.

"At that time, because I gave birth at a medicaster and heard crying sounds, I thought her condition was normal, but when I went to the doctor, I found out that Syifa didn't have an anus," said Susi Susanti (30), Syifa's mother.

For 2 years and 6 months, Syifa survived without an anus and could only defecate through her genitals.

"Her stomach is big and bulging because she only defecates once a week. She always cries in pain at that time," said Susi.

Syifa's moaning and crying all day long certainly broke the hearts of her parents. However, due to economic conditions, it took Syifa's parents a long time to collect the costs for treatment.

"My husband works in Malaysia because there is no work in our village, Kangean Island," said Susi.

Following the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs, Margo Laras Center in Pati as one of the technical implementation units (UPT) of the Ministry of Social Affairs carried out a quick response. The team has assisted with Syifa's medical treatment since August 2022, including facilitating treatment and hospitalization, assisting and strengthening the family, preparing administrative equipment, finding temporary housing for the family during Syifa's operation, and providing ATENSI assistance.

"Syifa has had surgery twice and will have surgery again in March. Hopefully, Syifa's digestive process will not have any more problems after the next operation," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Social Affairs Minister Risma stated that the community and mass media play an important role in handling cases of vulnerable groups.

"We are grateful to the public who have donated and media partners who have reported on Syifa so that she can immediately get medical help," he said.

During this visit, Minister of Social Affairs Risma handed ATENSI assistance worth IDR12,350,000 i.e. cash amounting to IDR5 million, entrepreneurship assistance for grocery stores amounting to Rp. 4.35 million, and assistance for necessities, daily equipment, nutrition, clothing, toys, and others worth IDR3 million. In that occasion, Kitabisa.com donations worth IDR 70,612,300 were also handed over.

"Thank you to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Kitabisa.com for helping us, hence Syifa can be treated," said Susi.

Also present were Special Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs for Communication and Mass Media Don Rozano, Special Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs for Human Resource Development and Programmers of the Ministry Suhadi Lili, Director of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs Kanya Eka Santi, Regent of Sumenep Achmad Fauzi and staff, Head of the "Margo Laras" Center in Pati Jiwaningsih, and representatives of Kitabisa.com.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs