Indonesia

International Activity Report, 2007

Located on the 'Ring of Fire', Indonesia is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides. MSF began working in the country in October 1995. After the 2004 Tsunami, MSF set up a clinic in Aceh and ran projects in eight affected districts providing medical care including surgery, vaccinations and psychological support. MSF continues to assist victims of natural disasters through its emergency programmes and provides healthcare in remote areas. 

Responding to emergencies
MSF responded to a measles outbreak in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi, and worked with the local health authority to set up a mass vaccination campaign reaching over 7,000 children. 

MSF treated 1,132 cases of malaria in South Halmahera and distributed 3,701 bed nets in Buano Island of Maluku Province. MSF also provided healthcare to 1,291 miners in Mimika in Papua after a high number of cases of meningitis was reported. 

MSF intervened after floods in Jakarta and a series of earthquakes that jolted West Sumatra, in Bengkulu, Muko Muko and Mentawai Island. The teams ran mental health activities providing psychological support to 29,000 people. 

After the March earthquake in West Sumatra, MSF set up four hospital tents to support Padang Panjang hospital and Puskesmas Lunang Silaut and donated medical supplies to the local health authority. The teams conducted 5,110 medical consultations and distributed 43,600 blankets, 24,600 plastic sheets, 1,400 cooking sets and 22,000 hygiene kits. 

Providing healthcare in remote areas
Following a measles vaccination campaign on the remote island of Papua in May 2006, MSF launched a primary healthcare programme in Asmat, southern Papua, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The programme aimed to improve mother and child healthcare and access to basic and emergency medical care for these isolated communities. In 2007, over 5,500 consultations were conducted, 269 babies were delivered in the supported health facilities and an obstetric referral system was set up in case of emergency. Other activities in Asmat included the rehabilitation of the surgery room, the donation of surgery and medical materials and water and sanitation activities. 

In June, MSF handed over its tuberculosis activities in Ambon, in the Moluccan islands, to the local health authorities. This pilot project focused on a patient-centred approach and provided fixed drug combinations. It improved patients' adherence to treatment and strengthened the counselling skills of local health staff.