East Manggarai, NTT – Amid the ongoing post-earthquake emergency in East Nusa Tenggara, the Hasanuddin University Disaster Response Thematic KKN Team (Wave 117) once again faced an emergency on Tuesday night (25 August). A resident of Gongger Bawah village, West Satarpunda Village, North Lambaleda District, East Manggarai Regency, suffered a serious injury to the right thumb while working as a carpenter.
Unhas KKN-TB team member Muhammad Aflahal Mukmin, a 2023 student in the International Relations Study Program at Unhas’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), reported that the resident’s injury was quite serious. The top of the victim’s right thumb was nearly severed down to the tendon. The victim also suffered severe pain and dizziness and needed immediate treatment.
“The victim suffered a severe wound to the right thumb. The top of the finger was almost severed down to the tendon. The team immediately cleaned the wound and gave initial treatment before the victim was evacuated for further medical care,” Aflahal said in the report.
Initial treatment was given by three team members with health backgrounds: Lantar Maulana Anugerah Daiva and Reynhard Kanna Lengkong from the Medical Education Study Program, and Muhammad Rizky Rivaldo from the Dental Education Study Program.
After receiving first aid, the victim was evacuated by motorcycle to the nearest auxiliary community health center (Pustu) in the West Satarpunda area. The evacuation was carried out so the victim could receive further treatment quickly, given limited access and infrastructure that is still affected by the earthquake.
West Satarpunda is one of the operating areas of the Unhas KKN 117 Team and falls within Ring 1, the area given top priority for response because it is near the directly affected zone and requires intensive response and monitoring.
From the Pustu, the victim was then taken to the Borong Kolong Reo Atas Emergency Hospital for further medical treatment, in which medical staff stitched the wound.
According to Aflahal, the incident shows the importance of having a team on the ground, particularly in post-disaster situations when emergencies can occur at any time.
“In conditions like this, what people need is not only logistical aid. Access to health services and the ability to respond quickly to emergencies are also very important needs,” Hartono explained.
Handling the case was part of the response of the Unhas Disaster Response Thematic KKN 117 Team to ensure that people’s health needs continue to receive attention during the disaster response period. In addition to carrying out humanitarian and community service programs, the students’ presence on the ground allows the team to give an initial response to unexpected conditions that require immediate help.
The Unhas Disaster Response Thematic KKN 117 Team continues to provide services together with residents in the earthquake-affected areas of East Nusa Tenggara, while also supporting the fulfillment of basic needs and the recovery process of communities after the disaster. (*/dhs)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.