President Prabowo Committed to Improve Healthcare Services in Outermost Regions

President Prabowo Subianto inspects Miangas Community Health Center (Puskesmas), in Talaud Islands regency, North Sulawesi province, on Saturday (05/09).

President Prabowo Subianto inspected Miangas Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Talaud Islands regency, North Sulawesi province, on Saturday (05/09). During the visit, the President observed firsthand healthcare services in one of Indonesia’s frontier and outermost regions.

Upon arrival, President Prabowo immediately examined various healthcare facilities, including inpatients units. The President also inspected the condition of examination rooms and other supporting infrastructure.

During the tour, the President greeted a pregnant woman undergoing a medical examination at the community health center.

Dr. Cefrilia Pesik, the Head of the Miangas Community Health Center, stated that the visit provided an opportunity for health workers to discuss the conditions and specific needs of healthcare services in the border area.

“The President [has already] listened to several [concerns], including the current condition of Miangas Community Health Center (Puskesmas) and our resource requirements. Hopefully, the President and the Minister of Health can address these needs,” Dr. Cefrilia stated.

According to Dr. Cefrilia, the President’s response to their various inputs was positive. “[It was] very positive and [encouraging]. [Our concerns] were heard and immediately written in a notebook,” she added.

Albert Nusa, a nurse with 35 years of service, explained that while daily operations are running well, significant challenges remain, particularly the shortage of healthcare personnel and inefficiencies in the emergency referral process.

“If there is a critically ill patient, we must treat them on-site. [However,] if they require further treatment, we [lack] the necessary facilities. Our challenge is the emergency situation since the ship only arrives once a week,” Albert explained.

Albert also addressed the need for healthcare supporting facilities, including ambulances for patient transfer and proper vaccine cold storage. Despite these limitations, Albert emphasized that healthcare staff in Miangas Island remains committed to providing the best possible service towards the community.

“Patients often arrive in the middle of the night. [Whether] it is really a [true] emergency [or not], we as healthcare workers, continue to serve the community wholeheartedly because that is our responsibility,” he added.

President Prabowo’s visits to Miangas Island not only symbolized the Government’s presence in the frontier and outermost regions, but also conveyed the message that basic services, such as healthcare, must be accessible to all citizens, even those on Indonesia’s northernmost island. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (NST/MMB)