EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Strengthening human resources with the capacity to respond to disasters and build resilience is key to creating communities that can better withstand disasters. Muhammadiyah is being urged to strengthen this role by integrating disaster education from schools through higher education.
Rahmawati Husein, an expert of the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center under the Muhammadiyah Central Board, said institutional capacity building through education must continue to be encouraged. The effort is in line with Muhammadiyah Central Board President Haedar Nashir’s call to strengthen disaster-response actors.
According to Rahmawati, who is widely known as Ama, strengthening disaster resilience cannot be limited to MDMC itself. It must also extend to Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah’s affiliated institutions, particularly educational institutions.
“So it is not enough for MDMC or its regional units to be strong. Our affiliated institutions must also be resilient,” she said during the opening of the National Meeting of the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center on Friday (11/9)
Integrating Disaster Response into the Curriculum
One strategic step, she said, is to integrate disaster preparedness and mitigation into the curricula of Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah Educational Institutions. This would make disaster-related knowledge and skills part of continuous learning.
Ama said the approach has already begun at several Muhammadiyah-’Aisyiyah Universities (PTMA), although it has yet to be implemented on a large scale.
She cited several examples. Some PTMA study programs have incorporated disaster-related subjects into their educational programs, including disaster medicine at Ahmad Dahlan Universities, disaster physiotherapy, as well as several learning blocks in nursing and medicine at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta.
“Disaster medicine, for example, is currently offered at Ahmad Dahlan University while disaster physiotherapy is another example. Several blocks in nursing and medicine at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta have also addressed these issues regularly. There is also a master’s program in hospital management, but the approach is not yet widespread,” she said.
For Ama, integrating disaster education is an essential part of mitigation efforts. Muhammadiyah, she said, cannot focus only on responding when disasters strike. It must also ensure the quality of its human resources and the sustainability of resilience systems at the community level.
Because if all we do is respond, how resilient can Muhammadiyah really be?” she said.
Preparing Communities before Disaster Strikes
She illustrated the risk by imagining an earthquake striking a Muhammadiyah school during school hours. Without disaster mitigation education, the entire school community could be exposed to danger.
“Imagine an earthquake striking a Muhammaidyah school during school hours. If disaster mitigation is not integrated into the curriculum, students could all become victims,” Ama said.
Ama further explained that strengthening community capacity is also grounded in the principles of humanitarian charters. Communities living in disaster-prone or affected areas should not be viewed solely as recipients of aid. They can also become first responders, providing immediate assistance when disaster strikes.
With adequate capacity, communities can take appropriate initial action before outside assistance arrives.
“If we wait for the government, it may take too long. At the very least, through Muhammadiyah’s role in educating communities and sharing knowledge, people can become more resilient and reduce the risk of loss of life, illness, and even damage to their own homes,” she concluded. (Bhisma)
