MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, ACEH – As a new year dawned in Banda Aceh, the West Aceh Muhammadiyah Leadership (PWM) marked the occasion with a compassionate gesture: initiating a free health and psychological care program for Rohingya refugees residing at the Balai Meuseuraya Aceh (BMA).
This outreach effort, driven by a spirit of solidarity and support, saw Lazismu (the Muhammadiyah Zakat, Infaq, and Sadaqah Institution), MDMC (Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center), and Muhammadiyah autonomous organizations coming together to offer a helping hand. Notably, Universitas Muhammadiyah (Unmuha) Aceh readily stepped forward, providing medical and psychological personnel to bolster the program’s effectiveness.
For the Secretary of Lazismu of Aceh Zulhilmi, the program resonated with a profound sense of purpose. “Today’s collaboration,” he expressed, “was met with great enthusiasm by the Rohingya residents at the BMA. Our hope is to alleviate their burdens in some small way, offering support through both medical and psychological means.”
Currently, the BMA shelters 137 Rohingya individuals, a community composed of 70 men, 49 women, 14 toddlers, and four infants. Each member received the program’s diverse offerings, which encompassed medical check-ups and psychological counseling.
The Rohingya residents expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the Muhammadiyah’s initiative. “This program has been a blessing,” shared Mohammad, a refugee, “providing us with invaluable care and a glimpse of hope amidst our journey.”
Muhammadiyah Aceh’s compassionate act stands as a testament to the power of human connection and solidarity. In a world grappling with challenges, it exemplifies the transformative potential of offering even the simplest forms of support and care, particularly to those facing displacement and hardship. This act of kindness not only brought respite to the Rohingya community but also ignited a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in the face of uncertainty, humanity prevails.
