UNAIR NEWS – Faculty of Medicine (FK) UNAIR and Ksatria Medika Airlangga Foundation held a one-year commemoration of Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital (RSTKA) on Saturday, Feb. 9. The event titled “A Year of Service of Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital” was held in the Hall of Faculty of Medicine, Campus A UNAIR by inviting all parties who have been involved and supported RSTKA.
In the event, there was an MoU signing session between Dean of FK UNAIR, IKA-UA, RSUD Dr. Soetomo, Universitas Airlangga Teaching Hospital (RSUA), Head of East Java Provincial Health Agency and Ksatria Medika Airlangga Foundation to create synergy for the next RSTKA activities. Moreover, there was also an awarding session from FK UNAIR to 10 people as representatives of volunteers during 2017-2018 period, presentation of reports on RSTKA ship activities, presentation of testimonies from Ksatria volunteers, and presentation of 2019 RSTKA activities.
The 27-meter long and 7.2-meter pinisi boat built in Galesong, South Sulawesi started sailing on September 9, 2017. For one year, RSTKA UNAIR had visited 22 islands, handled 1,532 surgeries and 11,482 patients with basic and specialist health services.
Chairman of Ksatria Medika Airlangga Foundation, Dr. Christiyogo Sumartono, dr., Sp. AnKAR expressed his gratitude for the success of RSTKA program to provide health services to communities on remote islands in Indonesia.
“All of us in RSTKA management feel that it was a dream come true. Because from the very beginning of this program implementation we had funding difficulties. The management’s enthusiasm and energy should not be extinguished because we will prove those pessimists wrong and the program will last long, “he said.
He shared some of his experience visiting the remote islands. For him, each island has left their own impression.
“In Bawean Island, we started Bawean Hospital, in Sapeken Island we delivered our first baby, people started to notice the floating hospital in Kalimas River, in Lombok we also supported the earthquake’s casualties. All health stakeholders were amazed of how this ‘tiny’ ship can give support in disaster’s site. In Palu, we donated 70 small fishboats with its motors and fishnets, and we also built fish market and public toilets,” he explained.
In the future, RSTKA will also supported the 100-day work program of East Java Governor, Khofifah Parawansa, to serve 3 islands in Sumenep Regency and other islands. For this reason, the volunteers will first conduct a survey and establish cooperation with local stakeholders.
Christiyogo also hopes the dream of second fleet of floating hospital can be realized soon.
“We hope, insyaallah , with the support of all UNAIR donors and extended families and Rector, Prof. Nasih, we will make the second ship or second fleet, in collaboration with Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, “he concluded.
Author: Zanna Afia Deswari
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
