Hospital’s breath of life
How military medics pulled a devastated health facility out of the mud

Cleaning duties: Pte Alex Shain, 1HSB, removes excess mud from the entry to the Anzac Field Hospital. Photos by AB Phillip Cullinan, 1JPAU

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

THE legend of Anzac continues within the ruins of the Banda Aceh Hospital.

The Australian and New Zealand men and women of the Anzac Field Hospital have upheld the highest standards expected by their ancestors as they deliver medical services to survivors of the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami.

Following in the path of the Parachute Surgical Team that first deployed to Banda Aceh, the Anzac Field Hospital moved into the damaged buildings of the Zainal Abidin General Hospital and started bringing order to the chaos around them.

CO Lt-Col Georgina Whelan said a considerable amount of work was needed to get the hospital functioning, not just in terms of establishing the clinical capability, but also in clearing away the mud and debris from the buildings medical staff had occupied.

“It’s been a whole-of-hospital effort to get this place up and running,” she said. “We’ve also had considerable trade work done in the areas of sewerage, plumbing, water treatment and electricity.”

The public hospital had been devastated by the tsunami, and the death toll among the patients and staff was high.

“This was a 450-bed teaching hospital staffed by 900 employees,” Lt-Col Whelan said.

“About a third of the staff have been accounted for and have returned, but it is our understanding that at least another third have died.”

Of the patients in the hospital at the time, the infants and those unable to move themselves perished in the tsunami.

“A considerable number of wards had to cleared [of bodies],” Lt-Col Whelan said.

“That was mainly done by the Indonesian Armed Forces, however, we are still uncovering bodies.”

Anzac Field Hospital RSM WO1 Mark Campbell had nothing but praise for the dedication of the men and women of the Anzac workforce.

“The soldiers have dealt with the situation exactly as you would expect professionals to do,” he said.

“They attacked the task from the very first day with enthusiasm and vigour. The compassion they have shown and the way they conduct themselves when dealing with patients and local people has been first rate.”

The Anzac team is providing services ranging from surgical and highdependent care to primary care and environmental health support.

More than 100 surgical operations have been conducted and more than 200 patients are accommodated in the refurbished buildings, thanks in part to the industrious scrounging of the troops.

“We’ve been able to salvage a lot,” Lt-Col Whelan said.

“Our bio-med technicians and our electricians have done considerable work on cleaning up the damaged equipment from the public hospital.

“In addition, the staff have cleaned everything to a point where we have two wards fully functioning with Indonesian equipment.”

The German military has also set up a field hospital in the grounds of the public hospital, and between the Indonesians, Australians and Germans there are moves to ensure that the Zainal Abidin General Hospital will once again be one of the best teaching hospitals in Indonesia.

“The main challenge we face now is the long-term refurbishment of the hospital, which is beyond the capacity of the current military capability,” Lt-Col Whelan said.

“But we are in close consultation with AusAID and the Germans, and we expect to see the transition from the military focus to civilian support and refurbishment for the hospital over the next month.”

Perhaps the final word should come from Dr Rus Munandar, the Indonesian director of the public hospital.

He returned to work the day after the disaster, despite losing his home in the tsunami and being left with nothing other than the clothes on his back.

Cautious of the strangers at first, he now has nothing but praise for the Anzac personnel, and not just because of their technical skills.

“There are a lot of people in Banda Aceh who are suffering from psychotrauma and have unsettled tempers, but the Anzac military personnel have a calming effect on them,” Dr Munandar said.

“They are honest, patient and polite, and I really appreciate the peace they bring to the people.”