Indonesia May Extend Medical Mission in Myanmar as EMT Earns Praise for Earthquake Relief
Yangon, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian Humanitarian Team Coordinator, Ary Laksmana Widjaja, has hinted at the possibility of extending the deployment of Indonesia’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, in the aftermath of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on March 28.
The Indonesian EMT has been providing critical medical services in the Ottara District for 14 days, with their official mission scheduled to conclude on Monday. However, Widjaja stated that if the Myanmar Ministry of Health expresses a desire for continued cooperation, an extension could be discussed via bilateral diplomatic channels.
Myanmar’s Minister of Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win and Naypyitaw Governor Than Tun Oo have both commended the Indonesian EMT’s contributions, acknowledging their valuable support to residents in the affected areas.
Operating from 08:30 to 16:30 local time daily in the yard of the 50-bed Ottarathiri Hospital, the EMT has provided care to an average of 315 patients per day, treating a range of conditions from muscle pain, arthritis, and respiratory infections to emergency trauma cases, including fractures, stab wounds, and strokes.
Widjaja also shared that if the team’s operations are not extended, all medical facilities and infrastructure will be handed over to the Ottarathiri Hospital, with a symbolic handover ceremony attended by officials from Myanmar’s Ministry of Health.
“The health services we have provided were warmly received by both the local government and the people,” Widjaja noted. “Our work here will certainly be a beautiful memory for the people of Myanmar — a memory of the kindness of the Indonesian people shown through the EMT during the emergency response after the earthquake.”
The mission stands as a powerful gesture of regional solidarity and humanitarian support, reflecting Indonesia’s commitment to its neighbors in times of crisis.
