SAF CONCLUDES RELIEF OPERATIONS IN PARIAMAN AND PADANG

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has wrapped up its humanitarian assistance operations in Pariaman and Padang, as the West Sumatra region hit by an earthquake more than two weeks ago begins to show signs of returning to normalcy.

Two medical clinics, one in Padang and the other in Pariaman, were completed by a 30-man SAF engineering team on 15 Oct. These modular structures, made of iron and aluminium, will replace the two that were damaged by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake, and can last up to five years.

Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Operations), Brigadier-General (BG) Tung Yui Fai, and the Deputy Assistant for Territorial Affairs to Commander-in-Chief Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI), BG Norman Zamili, handed over the clinic in Padang Pasir in Padang to the Mayor of Padang, Dr Fauzi Bahar on 16 Oct.

At Koto Bangko in Pariaman, the SAF and TNI handed over the clinic to the Deputy Mayor of Koto Bangko, Mr Ali Mukhni.

In his speech at the handing-over ceremony at Padang Pasir, BG Tung said: "The close cooperation between the SAF and TNI allowed the SAF to provide effective medical assistance and construct the two medical clinics in Padang and Pariaman within a short time."

"We hope our assistance has gone some way to relieving the suffering of the earthquake victims."

Over at Pariaman Public Hospital in Pariaman, the 54-man SAF medical team concluded its medical operations on 16 Oct.

Comprising orthopaedic and general surgeons, anaesthetists, general practitioners, medics and nurses from the SAF and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the medical team had helped to augment the hospital in managing the spike in earthquake-related casualties by setting up an Accident and Emergency (A & E) clinic and an operating theatre at the hospital.

The SAF team had also set up a mobile medical clinic in Koto Bangko, Pariaman, to give medical assistance to earthquake victims in the more remote areas.

In their two weeks of operations which commenced on 4 Oct at the Pariaman Public Hospital, the SAF medical team attended to more than 1100 A & E cases and performed over 100 surgical procedures.

To conclude the SAF's relief efforts, a ceremony was held at Pariaman Public Hospital where the SAF contingent handed over medical supplies to the local authorities.

Both the director of Pariaman Public Hospital, Dr Hajah Asmaliza, and Head of the Office of Health (Padang Pariaman), Dr Haji Lazwardi, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the SAF for the medical assistance rendered.

The SAF medical and engineering teams will return to Singapore on 18 Oct.

For related content, visit the SAF's Humanitarian Assistance for Sumatra Earthquake website, cyberpioneer Flickr gallery and cyberpioneerTV YouTube channel.