BANGKA - PT Timah Tbk together with the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDA) of Bangka Regency held free cleft lip surgery for the community on Bangka Island at Medika Stania Hospital, Saturday (10/30/2021).
This cleft lip operation became a series of commemorations of the 71st IDI Anniversary held by IDA Bangka Regency. Some of the social activities carried out include mass circumcision and also cleft lip surgery.
Vice-Chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) of Bangka Regency, Dr. Zainal Arfan said cleft lip surgery this time was followed by nine residents on Bangka Island including those from South Bangka and West Bangka.
"This cleft lip surgery activity is a series of social service activities held by IDI Bangka Regency in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of IDI. Together with CSR PT Timah Tbk IDI carries out free cleft lip surgery for the community," he said, Monday (1/11/2021).
He explained, on Bangka Island, there are recorded dozens of people who suffer from cleft lips. In addition, this cleft lip surgery cannot be covered by BPJS Kesehatan because it is part of the aesthetics. In fact, he said cleft lip is one of the congenital diseases.
"Through this activity, we want to make a better smile for those in need by this cleft lip surgery. Where cleft lip surgery is not borne by BPJS because it is considered for aesthetics, but the number of people who suffer from cleft lip is still quite high. That's why IDI together with PT Timah Tbk together with Medika Stania Hospital held this cleft lip surgery," he said.
He mentioned before the Covid-19 pandemic similar activities had also been carried out with UPZ Baznas PT Timah Tbk. However, this activity was again carried out in 2021 using PT Timah Tbk's CSR funds.
"Cleft lip surgery has also been carried out with UPZ Baznas PT Timah Tbk, but because of Covid-19 they are focused on handling Covid-19, so this year IDI proposed this activity to CSR PT Timah Tbk and approved so that this activity can be re-implemented," said Director of Medika Stania Hospital.
According to him, so far PT Timah Tbk often collaborates with IDI to carry out health service activities with the community, especially in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The existing synergies are well-established, especially in the Covid-19 eradication situation, we are also assisted by PT Timah Tbk. Sometimes there are also patients who are proposed by IDA to get help with medical expenses, this is also assisted by PT Timah Tbk, "he said.
In the future, he hopes that PT Timah Tbk can go down to help the community in dealing with DENGUD disease whose number of cases began to increase.
"We hope that this synergy will continue to be established and PT Timah Tbk can also help us in handling DBD for example by providing fogging tools for NGOs to help carry out fogging," he concluded. (**)
