USU PR — The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), together with the professional organization PAPDI North Sumatra, Perdatin (Anesthesiology), and Radiology, with support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), carried out a humanitarian mission in Central Tapanuli Regency on Thursday (December 4, 2025). This mission marked the ninth day after the disaster and served as an initial mitigation team to pave the way for the establishment of health service posts, while strengthening cross-sector coordination with the TNI, Pandan Regional General Hospital (RSU Pandan), the Health Office, and the Government of Central Tapanuli Regency.

The FK USU medical team was led by dr. M. Aron Pase, SpPD, KEMD (Chair of PAPDI North Sumatra), together with TNI health personnel and colleagues from various professional backgrounds. The team departed from Medan using a Hercules aircraft facilitated by the Indonesian Air Force and, upon arrival in Central Tapanuli, immediately proceeded to RSU Pandan to coordinate with the Central Tapanuli Health Office, TNI Army health units, and RSU Pandan management to determine priority mitigation and service points.

Based on the coordination results, priority areas were designated in the red zones, namely Tukka Sub-district and Hutanabolon Sub-district, which at that time were still inundated by floodwaters, with health services not yet operational and access to clean water and electricity cut off. The team then entered the Tukka area to provide emergency health services while assessing the extent of damage. In the field, severe damage to homes and public facilities was identified, with an estimated 70 percent heavily affected. Predominant health complaints included skin diseases, acute respiratory infections, foot trauma, diarrhea, and dyspepsia, which were further exacerbated by the absence of clean water and electricity.

Activities continued on Friday (December 5, 2025). The team established two treatment points at the Tukka Community Health Center (Puskesmas) and the Hutanabolon Post, assisted by local health workers. Dozens of residents received services in Hutanabolon, with the majority of cases involving skin diseases resulting from days without access to clean water. The team also conducted home visits to several households that had returned to their homes in affected areas. On the same day, additional FK USU medical volunteers arrived to reinforce field services and coordinate at RSU Pandan.

On Saturday (December 6, 2025), services became more coordinated through collaboration among FK USU, PAPDI North Sumatra, members of IDAI, Nursing, Anesthesiology, and the Central Tapanuli Health Office. The combined team conducted medical services in Tukka, Hutanabolon, and Badiri. Meanwhile, the mitigation team continued opening access to health services in Sorkam and Barus Sub-districts in preparation for establishing additional health service posts in areas previously unreached by medical services.

On Sunday (December 7, 2025), the FK USU mitigation team returned to Medan, while FK USU medical volunteers remained for the following week until December 13, 2025, to continue health and humanitarian missions at affected locations.

The Chair of PAPDI North Sumatra, dr. M. Aron Pase, SpPD, KEMD, emphasized that this mission constituted an important initial step to ensure that the most severely affected areas promptly receive proper health services. “Red zone areas such as Tukka and Hutanabolon require the fastest possible health response because access to clean water, electricity, and medical services was completely cut off. We carried out this mitigation team as a path-opener so that health service posts can be established quickly, structured services can be implemented, and the most affected residents are not left to face health risks alone. Collaboration among FK USU, professional organizations, Kemendiktisaintek, the TNI, and local governments is key to ensuring that medical assistance is well-targeted and sustainable,” said dr. Aron.

FK USU reaffirmed its commitment to remaining present among disaster-affected communities through rapid, collaborative, and needs-oriented health services, while strengthening efforts to restore public health in Central Tapanuli until post-disaster conditions stabilize.