Mobile Care Leads to Recovery

In May 2006, an earthquake in Indonesia left almost 7,000 people dead, over 58,700 people injured and 24 of the 26 community health centers in the Bambanglipuro Sub-district severely damaged or completely destroyed. HOPE immediately assessed the damage and responded to the earthquake with humanitarian assistance in the form of $1 million of medicine and medical supplies.

Also, it was clear there was a necessity for a permanent health facility to treat the estimated 16,000 people who would require long-term post-operative rehabilitation assistance to recover from injuries sustained during the earthquake. Project HOPE responded with a mobile health clinic to reach the population who otherwise would never get access to the proper care to fully recover from their injuries.

The clinic was designed to reach people like Mr. Budi Utomo, a 47-year-old farmer, who was rushed to a hospital three hours away after a wall collapsed on his back and legs injuring his spine and breaking his left leg. He left the hospital paralyzed in both legs, lacking the money or transportation to get to the hospital for follow-up care and was unable to live the life he once knew. The Project HOPE mobile clinic visited his village, providing him mental support services, a doctor’s examination and physical therapy. After 24 regular physical therapy sessions Mr. Budi began to walk again.

“I thank Project HOPE because I’m sure that I would still be lying on my bed right now if it weren’t for this program, and I might not be able to feed my family,” said Utomo.