MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Emergency Medical Team of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (EMT MDMC) has officially made history as the first emergency medical team in Indonesia to be internationally verified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Tamara Curtin Niemi, Team Leader for Health Emergency at WHO Indonesia, expressed high appreciation for the remarkable achievement and hard work demonstrated by Muhammadiyah EMT.
“WHO congratulates EMT MDMC for this extraordinary achievement as the first internationally verified emergency medical team in Indonesia, the 18th in the Western Pacific region and the 63rd in the world,” she stated during the event held at K.H. Sudja’ Mosque Hall, Muhammadiyah Medical Centre in Gamping, on Saturday (18/10)
Tamara emphasized that this accomplishment reflects the dedication and long-standing collaboration among various parties to strengthen emergency response capacity at both national and international levels. She also acknowledged the support of numerous global partners who played a key role in assisting EMT MDMC through technical training before achieving its international classification.
“This journey is also a reflection of the power of collaboration, beginning with the early support of the Emergency Medical Team Initiative, WHO Headquarters, and the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia,” Tamara said.
“We deeply appreciate the invaluable partnership with Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and International Search and Research (ISAR) Germany, who have provided technical support and solidarity throughout this process. We also extend our thanks to Peter Archer from the Australian Medical Assistance (AUSMAT), who has accompanied the team over the past nine years,” she added.
Tamara further stressed that this international verification marks not the end, but the beginning of EMT MDMC’s new role on the global stage. Moving forward, WHO looks forward to EMT MDMC’s continued contributions, not only domestically but also internationally.
“It is not an end, rather a beginning. We look forward to EMT MDMC’s contributions in strengthening emergency preparedness and response systems, not just in Indonesia but around the world,” she concluded. (Bintang Adrian)
