Enviro News Asia, Aceh — The Emergency Community Service (PKM) Team of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta (UPNVJ) delivered medical equipment assistance to the Lhokberingin Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Aceh after severe flooding swept away essential health facilities and disrupted medical services for local residents.
The assistance was handed over directly to the Head of Lhokberingin Puskesmas, Syamsul Bahri, on the same day of the team’s visit. The donation aimed to restore basic healthcare services after all medical equipment at the health center was lost during the flood disaster.
Syamsul Bahri, who has served as head of the puskesmas for only two months, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by UPNVJ. He stated that without essential medical tools such as blood pressure monitors, health workers were unable to conduct proper examinations and were forced to provide only limited services to patients.
“All medical equipment was swept away along with the grief caused by this flood,” Syamsul Bahri said. He described the disaster as a sudden and devastating event that deeply affected both healthcare workers and the surrounding community.
Following the flooding, the puskesmas has experienced a surge in cases of acute respiratory infections, intestinal worm infections, diarrhea, and skin diseases. According to Syamsul, the limited availability of medical equipment has made it increasingly difficult for health workers to respond to the growing number of patients. He also noted the urgent need for heavy equipment to help clear debris and waste left behind by the flood.
UPNVJ, through its PKM Emergency Response Program, has remained actively involved in disaster response efforts, including the distribution of humanitarian aid to affected areas. This initiative reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to strengthening community resilience and supporting post-disaster recovery.
The medical equipment assistance forms part of UPNVJ’s institutional policy to promote community engagement and disaster response. The university continues to encourage the active involvement of students and lecturers in community service programs, particularly in disaster-prone regions such as Aceh.
Through this initiative, UPNVJ reinforces its role as a Bela Negara–oriented university, emphasizing social responsibility and the well-being of communities affected by natural disasters. (www.upnvj.ac.id)
