USU PR — After spending three days in Medan and directly monitoring various flood disaster response activities in North Sumatra and Aceh, the Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek), Stella Christie, returned to the USU Peduli Command Post at the former Bank Sumut Building, Gate III of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), on Saturday (7/12/2025). This follow-up visit focused on a consolidation meeting with the USU Peduli Task Force to strengthen health service support in affected areas, particularly Aceh Tamiang.

The consolidation meeting discussed strategic steps for establishing a USU health service post in Aceh Tamiang as a reinforcement of emergency response efforts in areas severely affected by flooding. The USU Peduli Task Force presented the results of on-site needs mapping as well as a scheme for post placement to ensure integration with local government elements and cross-agency command posts in Aceh Tamiang. The meeting also finalized mechanisms for the regular deployment of health personnel from USU to Aceh Tamiang, including arrangements for the rotation of doctors, nurses, and cross-faculty health volunteers, so that services would not be temporary but sustained in line with the evolving needs of affected residents.

On that occasion, Prof. Stella emphasized that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology would prepare several assistance and funding schemes to support disaster management efforts in Aceh and North Sumatra, particularly to strengthen the involvement of higher education institutions in humanitarian services. These schemes will be directed to support field needs managed by universities, including health services, accompanying logistical support, and other emergency operational requirements in accordance with conditions in the affected areas.

“The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology will prepare several assistance and funding schemes to support disaster response efforts in Aceh and North Sumatra. This support is designed to ensure that campus-based interventions can be carried out quickly, accurately, and sustainably, especially in health services and community recovery,” Prof. Stella emphasized.

The USU Peduli Task Force expressed its readiness to follow up on the outcomes of the consolidation meeting, including accelerating preparations for the establishment of a health service post in Aceh Tamiang and arranging periodic deployment schedules for health personnel. The Task Force also ensured that on-site coordination would continue to be strengthened so that deployed health workers receive adequate logistical support, workplace safety, and medical referral networks.

As previously reported, USU has distributed assistance to several affected areas such as Binjai, Langkat, Sibolga, and Central Tapanuli. Health personnel from the Faculties of Nursing and Medicine at USU continue to provide medical services at disaster sites, while student volunteers from KOMPAS USU and Pramuka USU remain actively involved in assisting affected communities around Medan.

Through this consolidation meeting, USU and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening more systematic, measurable, and needs-oriented disaster response collaboration. The establishment of a USU health service post in Aceh Tamiang represents a concrete step to ensure that affected residents receive adequate medical services throughout the emergency and recovery phases.