Paramedics are frightened by the presence of security forces at Paniai Regional Hospital. Inpatients were sent home and transferred to other hospitals.

May 26, 2024 in Political, Legal and Security Affairs

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Writer: Abeth You – Editor: Aries Munandar

Enarotali, Jubi – All medical services at the Regional General Hospital or Paniai Regional Hospital have been completely paralyzed since Sunday morning (26/5/2024). The paramedics were afraid because joint TNI and Polri troops occupied the third floor of the hospital building.

Paniai Hospital Director Agus said there were no paramedics on duty since the security forces occupied the third floor of the hospital building. Because of this, they entrusted six inpatients to the Deiyai Pratama General Hospital. The rest were transferred to the Enarotali Community Health Center and returned to their homes.

“So, temporarily services [at Paniai Regional Hospital] have been transferred to Enarotali Community Health Center and Deiyai Pratama General Hospital. “[Patients who are sent home] can still consult [with a doctor] by telephone,” said Agus via mobile instant message.

Agus said there were six inpatients transferred to Deiyai Pratama Hospital. They are pediatric patients.

“There is a pediatrician there. “However, we still cover [the need for] medicine, oxygen and consumable medical materials [for these patients],” he said.

Agus admitted that the deployment of security forces was not a policy from the Paniai Regional Hospital management, but rather an instruction from the Ministry of Health. He hopes that all parties can work together well so that services return to normal at Paniai Hospital.

Director of the Deiyai Pratama General Hospital, Selvianus Ukago, said that they were continuing to coordinate with the Paniai Regional Hospital in treating the six entrusted patients. Paniai Regional Hospital has also met all of the patient’s medical needs.

“Pediatricians from both hospitals have coordinated with each other [regarding patient care]. “Paniai Regional Hospital has also met the patient’s medical needs,” said Ukago.

Head of the Enarotali Community Health Center, Rosalina Yogi, said that a number of patients entrusted from Paniai Regional Hospital had also arrived at the community health center. The patients were about to undergo labor.

“Mothers who [wanted to] give birth at the Paniai Regional Hospital have been transferred to the Enarotali Community Health Center. “That’s because we have officers, tools and complete facilities [for delivery services],” said Yogi.

Move location

Acting Regent of Paniai Denci Meri Nawipa said they would immediately move the presence of security officers from Paniai Regional Hospital. The transfer plan will be put together on Monday.

“Tomorrow, the security forces will move them to the regent’s residence, or near the [Enarotali] terminal. “That’s so that services at Paniai Regional Hospital continue to run,” said Nawipa when called by Jubi.

According to him, there are several versions regarding the reasons for placing a number of security officers at the Paniai Regional Hospital. One version states that the placement was triggered by rumors about the Paniai Regional Hospital fire, so health officials wanted security at the Regional Hospital.

“Last night [Saturday], security forces entered [occupying] the Paniai Regional Hospital. That’s because there were medical officers spreading information about the fire at the doctor’s and nurse’s house. “The fire occurred in another resident’s house,” said Nawipa.

Nawipa said he had also reported to Acting Governor Ribka Haluk regarding the deployment of security forces at the Paniai Regional Hospital. To Haluk, Nawipa confirmed that they were solving the problem.

Move location

Acting Regent of Paniai Denci Meri Nawipa said they would immediately move the presence of security officers from Paniai Regional Hospital. The transfer plan will be put together on Monday.

“Tomorrow, the security forces will move them to the regent’s residence, or near the [Enarotali] terminal. “That’s so that services at Paniai Regional Hospital continue to run,” said Nawipa when called by Jubi.

According to him, there are several versions regarding the reasons for placing a number of security officers at the Paniai Regional Hospital. One version states that the placement was triggered by rumors about the Paniai Regional Hospital fire, so health officials wanted security at the Regional Hospital.

“Last night [Saturday], security forces entered [occupying] the Paniai Regional Hospital. That’s because there were medical officers spreading information about the fire at the doctor’s and nurse’s house. “The fire occurred in another resident’s house,” said Nawipa.

Nawipa said he had also reported to Acting Governor Ribka Haluk regarding the deployment of security forces at the Paniai Regional Hospital. To Haluk, Nawipa confirmed that they were solving the problem.

Broken key

Head of the Information Center for the Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Lieutenant Colonel Candra Kurniawan, said that the deployment of troops to the Paniai Regional Hospital was at the request of local medical officers. They felt their safety was threatened by the actions of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

“The information circulating on social media regarding the expulsion of patients and the closure of the emergency room at Paniai Regional Hospital is a hoax. “At that time, TNI officers were actually securing the Paniai Regional Hospital because there were complaints from the public that the OPM mob was going to burn down the hospital,” said Candra in a written statement.

A similar denial was conveyed by the Head of Paniai Police, Adjunct Police Commissioner Abdus Syukur Felani. He asked the public not to easily believe information whose source is unclear.

“The closure of the emergency room was an initiative of Paniai Regional Hospital officers because the door lock was broken. “The picket officer had not arrived on Sunday morning so he closed the emergency room door to prevent theft in that room,” said Abdus.

OPM denied rumors about plans to burn Paniai Regional Hospital. They actually accused the TNI and Polri of disrupting community services at the RSUD.

“From the [widely circulated] video, we can see that the TNI/Polri ordered medical officers to close the emergency room door at Paniai Regional Hospital. “So, they have set up a scenario [planning to close the emergency room],” said West Papua Army Commander Damianus Magai Yogi. (*)