Universitas Andalas Disaster Response Team Prioritizes Healthcare Services for Isolated Residents in Malalak in Support of SDG 3 and SDG 11

Universitas Andalas has once again demonstrated its commitment to assisting disaster-affected communities by deploying its Disaster Response Team to Malalak District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra. This humanitarian action is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which emphasizes the importance of access to healthcare services, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which promotes community resilience in responding to and recovering from disasters.

The Universitas Andalas Disaster Response Team went directly to the area affected by flash floods in Malalak District on Sunday, November 7, to ensure that disaster response efforts could reach communities still facing serious impacts due to damaged infrastructure and geographic isolation. The visit was part of the university’s commitment to ensuring that the assistance provided would be targeted and responsive to the most urgent needs of the affected communities.

Based on field observations, two nagari were identified as the most severely affected, namely Nagari Malalak Timur and Nagari Malalak Utara. In Malalak Timur, Jorong Toboh was among the areas that suffered heavy damage after the connecting bridge was cut off, leaving access possible only by two-wheeled vehicles. This condition greatly limited the distribution of logistical aid.

An even more difficult situation was reported in Nagari Malalak Utara. Several areas, such as Jorong Sigiran and Jorong Koto Andaleh, were still isolated and difficult to reach. Residents in these areas had not yet received adequate healthcare services and were still in need of logistical assistance, particularly raw food supplies to meet their daily needs.

In light of these conditions, Universitas Andalas decided to focus its disaster response on the healthcare sector, especially in locations that had not yet been reached by government medical assistance. The team also planned to establish emergency health posts in the isolated areas so that medical services could be provided directly to the affected communities.

In addition to addressing the medical needs of residents, the Universitas Andalas team also found that local volunteers who had been helping clear landslide debris and distribute aid were beginning to suffer from physical exhaustion due to working continuously. Therefore, the team also identified an urgent need for vitamins and supplements to help maintain the volunteers’ stamina so they could continue supporting the recovery process in the field.

Through this initiative, Universitas Andalas seeks to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not focused solely on the distribution of logistics, but also on healthcare services and support for volunteers working on the front lines of disaster response. The presence of the university’s disaster response team is expected to help accelerate the recovery of the Malalak community while strengthening community resilience in facing future disasters.