IOM's assisted medical return programme for victims of the
September 30th 2009 West Sumatra Earthquake reached 2,829 patients
and family members in the three months following the disaster.

The three-month European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department
(ECHO)-funded project provided safe transport for victims and their
families to return home after medical treatment, focusing on
patients who had undergone major surgery, the elderly and the
disabled.

Patients and their families received health advice and
instructions in accordance with their discharge summaries, further
referrals, and assistance with follow-up visits to prevent
infection and further complications.

IOM health workers also distributed 10,000 hygiene packs to
earthquake victims in West Sumatra's Kota Padang and Pariaman
districts and implemented a health promotion campaign after the
disaster.

Staff from IOM and Puskesmas (local health centres) visited
schools and displacement sites to promote hand washing and dental
hygiene to highlight the connection between proper hygiene and
disease prevention.

For more information, please contact:

Jihan Labetubun

IOM Jakarta

Tel. +62.8111907028

E-mail: "mailto:jlabetubun@iom.int">jlabetubun@iom.int