Mercy M’sia to set up field hospital for victims of disaster

PETALING JAYA: Mercy Malaysia is setting up a 20bed field hospital to give aid to Sulawesi’s earthquake and tsunami victims, pending approval from the Indonesian government.

Ground assessment is being carried out to ascertain where the field hospital would be set up.

Mercy president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said they are looking either to have it on Palu or Donggala.

Donggala is located on the north of Palu with a population of 300,000 and was the epicentre of the 7.5 magnitude quake.

“We are ready to deploy a type 2 field hospital as soon as we receive the goahead from the Indonesian authorities.”

He said, currently Mercy’s nineman team, which has been deployed in batches by road in the last few days, is making the assessment.

Dr Ahmad said they would work closely with the Royal Malaysian Air Force to deliver the tents and other medical equipment for the hospital, which can be set up in less than a day.

A type 2 field hospital has at least 20 beds for inpatients and can perform between seven and 15 surgeries per day. It is also equipped with laboratory services, radiology, surgery, transfusions and even a rehabilitation unit.

He said the hospital can also see about 200 outpatients a day.

Dr Ahmad said the Mercy team will also set up a mobile clinic and assist their other nongovernmental organisations’ partners.

Indonesian officials said the number of people died in the Sept 28 earthquake and tsunami has risen to 1,571.

The 7.5magnitude quake struck just off the central island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed Palu, a coastal city.

The island then faced another catastrophe when Mount Soputan erupted.