Progress Report
Compassion In Action Medical Team in Meulaboh

The Past:

In order to coordinate all the relief efforts soon after the tsunami disaster and avoid any overlapped relief effort in the same camp/area, the military had assigned each relief agency to serve designated areas to provide service needed in these areas. After observing the effectiveness of the Compassion In Action Medical Team’s afford to help the victims, the district government requested the Medical Team to continue their medical service in one of the IDP camps in the Meulaboh City.

Since the beginning of the December tsunami disaster, Rotary International District 3450 has been a financial supporter of the Compassion In Action Medical Team in Meulaboh, Aceh and Nias Island. Without the generous support, the Compassion In Action Medical Team service in these areas might have to cease due to lack of funding. The Rotary International District 3450 has not only been a crucial donor to the operation of the Medical Team, but also donated an ambulance to the medical team so that patients need hospitalization can be taken to the only general hospital in Meulaboh easily. It is also the only transportation available to the team when they need to serve victims in other locations.

The Present Situation:

At present, the Medical Team in Meulaboh is still serving the displaced people seven days a week in Lapang Camp 1, 2, 3, 4, and the newly built Lapang Barrack, as well as the Leuhan Barracks, which is about 30 minutes drive from the Lapang Camp, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon. Apart from providing medical care in these areas, the Medical Team is also serving residents near the Team’s quarters. It is the Team’s mission to serve whoever comes to them for help.

In addition to provide medical service to the people in these areas, the team members also organize children programs whenever it is possible to do so. The children programs are aiming to provide organized activities for children after or before their schooling at the nearby schools. These children programs have become a favourite past time for children in the camp. Unfortunately, due to the limited manpower in each team, the members are only able to organize these programs in the Lapang camps on Monday, Tuesday and Friday afternoon. The team also sacrificed their Sunday afternoon rest time and took some of the children from the Lapang camp to the beach with the Ambulance kindly donated by the Rotary International District 3450, as it is the only transportation available to the Team.

In Nias Island, similar services have been delivered to the tsunami victims on the Northwest coast of the Island since the beginning of tsunami relief operation.

Statistical Report:

As of 30 th April 2005, The Salvation Army Indonesia Territory was able to send out a total of 25 medical teams to the fields, 14 teams to Meulaboh and 11 teams to Nias Island. These teams served a total of 15,439 patients.

An audit by The Salvation Army HK & Macau Command had been carried out on 24 th May. As of 30 th April 2005, the remaining balance of the Rotary International District 3450 was HK$576,181.00. (expenditure account as of 30th April 205, attached)

The future:

After the meeting with the Rotary International District 3450 in early April, we are very grateful that the District has agreed to continue their support of the Medical Team in Meulaboh until the end of December 2005.

A budget was put together for the expenses of each team to Meulaboh until the end of December 2005. The budget has set the parameter of the expenses of each team and the coordinator of these Medical Teams is making every effort to reduce the operation cost of each team. Doctors and nurses are asked to stay for one month or longer, if possible, in order to reduce the cost of traveling. Also, the coordinator is going to negotiate with airlines for a group rate in airline tickets from Jakarta to Medan, etc. (Budget attached)

A reporting mechanism has also set up with The Salvation Army Indonesia Territory. It was agreed that a quarterly statistical and financial report will be submitted to The Rotary International District 3450 through The Salvation Army HK & Macau Command. The first quarterly report will be for the quarter of April to June, 2005.

Images:


Doctors and Nurses as Teachers


Duo Role of the Team