USU PR — Flash floods that struck several areas in North Sumatra and Aceh caused significant damage to various public infrastructures, including Community Health Centers (Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat/Puskesmas). As first-level healthcare facilities, several Puskesmas were unable to function optimally after being inundated with water and mud, resulting in damage to medical equipment, medicines, and medical consumables, rendering them unusable.

During the emergency response period, community healthcare needs were supported through health posts managed by volunteers from various professional organizations, public and private educational institutions, including Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU). However, these health post services were temporary in nature. When the emergency response phase ended and health posts began to close, the community’s need for healthcare services continued, particularly for the treatment of post-flood illnesses, maternal healthcare services, and the management of chronic diseases requiring continuous therapy. These conditions made the restoration of Puskesmas functions a top priority.

Responding to this need, the FK USU Post-Flood Puskesmas Empowerment Acceleration Team, coordinated by Dr. dr. Yetty Machrina, M.Kes, AIFO-K, Sp.KKLP, Subsp. FOMC, moved swiftly to coordinate with the Aceh Tamiang Regency Health Office and the Langkat Regency Health Office. This coordination aimed to identify Puskesmas with the most severely affected service areas and those requiring immediate recovery. Activities have been ongoing since 8 December 2025, beginning with the distribution of logistics and healthcare services to the affected Puskesmas service areas. Meanwhile, the identification of Puskesmas commenced on 19 December 2025.

Based on the assessment of damage levels and service urgency, four priority Puskesmas were designated for revitalization: Puskesmas Sekerak and Puskesmas Bendahara in Aceh Tamiang Regency, as well as Puskesmas Pantai Cermin and Puskesmas Pangkalan Berandan in Langkat Regency. The specific needs of each Puskesmas were determined according to the severity of flood impacts and the types of healthcare services that needed to be restored immediately.

The FK USU team, consisting of multidisciplinary healthcare personnel, promptly distributed assistance in the form of medicines, basic medical equipment, and medical consumables required to support primary healthcare services, maternal and child health services, and emergency care at the Puskesmas. This assistance was positively received by the heads of the Puskesmas, as it significantly helped accelerate the resumption of healthcare services for the community.

The Head of Puskesmas Sekerak, Irwansyah, S.K.M., stated that the assistance provided was highly meaningful for the operational continuity of the Puskesmas. According to him, all assistance would be immediately distributed to auxiliary health centers (puskesmas pembantu/pustu) and integrated health posts (posyandu) so that the community could quickly and equitably regain access to healthcare services.

The Coordinator of the FK USU Puskesmas Empowerment Acceleration Team, Dr. dr. Yetty Machrina, M.Kes, AIFO-K, Sp.KKLP, Subsp. FOMC, emphasized that restoring Puskesmas functions is key to ensuring the continuity of post-disaster healthcare services.
“Health posts are very helpful during the emergency phase, but restoring Puskesmas is a strategic step to ensure that community healthcare services continue after the emergency response period ends. Through this revitalization, we hope that Puskesmas can return to optimal functioning to serve the community, especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic diseases,” she said.

Through this initiative, FK USU reaffirms its commitment not only to being present during the disaster emergency phase but also to actively contributing to the restoration of the primary healthcare system as the foundation for sustainable community health recovery in affected areas.