INDONESIA - IOM Helps Over 2,800 Indonesian Earthquake Victims Return Home from Hospital

IOM's assisted medical return program for victims of the September 30th 2009 West Sumatra Earthquake reached 2,829 patients and family members in the three months following the disaster.

The 3-month European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO)-funded project provided safe transport for victims and their families to return home after medical treatment, focusing on patients who had undergone major surgery, the elderly and the disabled.

Patients and their families received health advice and instructions in accordance with their discharge summaries, further referrals, and assistance with follow-up visits to prevent infection and further complications.

IOM health workers also distributed 10,000 hygiene packs to earthquake victims in West Sumatra's Kota Padang and Pariaman districts and implemented a health promotion campaign after the disaster.

Staff from IOM and Puskesmas (local health centres) visited schools and displacement sites to promote hand washing and dental hygiene to highlight the connection between proper hygiene and disease prevention.

For more information, please contact: Jihan Labetubun at IOM Jakarta. Tel. +62.8111907028, Email: jlabetubun@iom.int