The Faculty of Medicine at the Indonesian Muslim University (FK UMI), in collaboration with the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) Indonesia, dispatched 15 volunteers to the earthquake-stricken area in West Sulawesi (Sulbar).

The Dean of the UMI Faculty of Medicine in Makassar, Prof. Dr. Syarifuddin Wahid, Sp.PA(K), stated that the volunteers—comprising doctors and medical students—will join other volunteers to provide the best possible care to the victims. “According to data from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), there are hundreds of residents with serious and minor injuries, all of whom need medical assistance,”

The team, coordinated by the Head of the Research, Publication, and Community Service Unit (UP3M) at the UMI Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Armanto Makmun, M.Kes, together with AMDA-Indonesia, will immediately deploy upon arrival at their destination.

The medical personnel dispatched consist of 4 doctors and 11 medical students. They have been equipped with standard personal protective equipment (PPE) and have undergone rapid antigen screening. The volunteer team’s activities will last one week; this is the first team to be deployed, and it will also conduct an assessment of the needs and issues in Mamuju.

This assessment will serve as input and preparation for the deployment of the next team, which is scheduled to depart next week. In addition to the medical team consisting of doctors and medical students, the team is also bringing aid intended for residents of Mamuju, Majene, and surrounding areas affected by the earthquake, including food, medicine, clothing, and PPE.

This team will set up a health post in collaboration with teams already on-site to provide much-needed healthcare services to residents affected by the earthquake.

In his remarks, the President of AMDA-Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Andi Husni Tanra, offered words of encouragement to the volunteer teams preparing to depart for the disaster area.

He stated that this humanitarian effort is a call from the heart, driven by sincerity, which will be rewarded extraordinarily by Allah SWT.

“It is hoped that everyone will continue to prioritize their health, given that we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please adhere to health protocols,” he said. The Dean of the UMI Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Syarifuddin Wahid, Sp.PA(K), added that fostering humanism, a sense of humanity, and a calling to serve are essential.

“For us, as doctors, this is an inherent responsibility, and we hope to turn this tragedy into a lesson for us all.”