The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government held the Five Centuries of Jakarta Health Service by conducting free cleft lip and palate surgeries at two different hospitals.
“Quality health services”
The Assistant for People’s Welfare of DKI Jakarta Province stated that this program has been running since last year. For this period, it is being carried out at Tebet Regional Hospital and Cempaka Putih Regional Hospital.
“We chose type C and D hospitals so that health services are closer and more community-oriented. This policy emphasizes that quality health services are not only available at type A and B hospitals,” he said, while reviewing the cleft lip surgery at Tebet Regional Hospital, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.
He explained that regarding the patients being treated, one of the main requirements is having a DKI Jakarta ID card, but the Governor of DKI Jakarta also opened the widest opportunity for residents outside DKI Jakarta ID cards.
“We invite all families, relatives, or friends who have cleft lip conditions and need plastic surgery treatment to join this program,” he explained.
According to him, this program is held for free by involving expert doctors who have experience handling thousands of similar cases.
“It is targeted that by 2027, as many as 500 patients can be served through this surgery program,” he revealed.
According to him, this surgery is very important, not only for the patient’s physical health, such as facilitating speaking ability and improving eating patterns for a healthier body, but also greatly affects the psychosocial aspect.
“When patients grow up and interact in society, this condition often causes feelings of insecurity. Therefore, community support is greatly needed to convince those who feel hesitant or worried to be willing to join this program,” he said.
He detailed that currently, there are 13 patients at Tebet Regional Hospital and 17 patients at Cempaka Putih Regional Hospital, with a total of 30 patients being treated.
The farthest patient comes from Papua Province. This shows that this program is open to all Indonesian citizens without age restrictions, from infants to adults.
“After surgery, patients are generally allowed to go home immediately after the procedure,” he explained.
The Director of Tebet Regional Hospital added that previously there were 30 patients who registered. However, after going through the screening process, some had insufficient weight, were experiencing fever, and other conditions, so their surgeries had to be postponed.
“Because this will last for one year, we will continue to provide information through social media or health services at the sub-district and district levels, so that eventually all will be optimally reached,” she said.
Meanwhile, one of the patients’ parents expressed gratitude and felt helped because her child named Faris (2) received free cleft lip surgery treatment.
“This is the second time. Later, my child can have follow-up surgery at the age of seven. Hopefully, we will continue to get help again so that my child can fully recover like other normal children,” she concluded.