Prabowo Visits Miangas: Urgent Need for Healthcare and Education Reform

President Prabowo Subianto’s recent visit to Miangas, a tiny island home to just 823 residents, has cast a stark spotlight on the challenging realities faced by communities living in Indonesia’s remote border regions. The island’s solitary, aging health center (Puskesmas) operates with only one general physician, while its single high school has alarmingly gone without an Indonesian language teacher for the past two years.

Prabowo set foot on Miangas Island on Saturday, May 9th. This strategically significant island, the northernmost outpost of Indonesia, falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Talaud Islands Regency in North Sulawesi.

The primary objective of this high-profile visit was to personally assess the living conditions of the local populace, particularly scrutinizing the state of healthcare and educational infrastructure in this critical frontier area. Prabowo emphasized the rarity of such a visit, noting that he is only the second Indonesian president to ever come to Miangas.

“President Jokowi was here before me to inaugurate the airport. My role will be to further improve and maintain it to an even higher standard,” Prabowo stated during his engagement in Miangas, signaling a commitment to continuity and enhancement.

Prabowo’s journey to Miangas followed his attendance at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines. He arrived at Miangas Airport around 10:45 AM WITA, accompanied by several ministers from his Red and White Cabinet. His itinerary included an immediate inspection of the Miangas Puskesmas, followed by a visit to the community meeting hall located at the SMKN 2 Talaud field at approximately 11:15 AM WITA.

During his visit, the President brought particular attention to the dilapidated condition of the Miangas Puskesmas. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had previously reported that the facility had not undergone any repairs since the Suharto era, underscoring years of neglect. In response, Prabowo swiftly pledged that the government would embark on an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of all Puskesmas facilities across Indonesia.

Only One Doctor at the Puskesmas

The Miangas Puskesmas stands as the singular beacon of healthcare on this remote island, affectionately known as Bumi Nyiur Melambai (Land of Swaying Coconuts). Dr. Cefrilia Pesik, the Head of Miangas Puskesmas, is the sole general practitioner operating within its humble, antiquated structure.

Despite its severe limitations, this Puskesmas represents the sole pillar of hope for the island’s 823 inhabitants seeking basic medical services. There are no hospitals, no other clinics; just this one facility. With only a single general practitioner and 10 support staff, the burden of accommodating the entire community’s health needs rests heavily on their shoulders, underscoring a profound dependency on this solitary service point.

“In terms of human resources, we are critically understaffed; for instance, we have only one midwife,” Dr. Cefrilia revealed during an interview at the Puskesmas, highlighting the dire personnel shortages.

Puskesmas in Miangas (Katadata/Muhammad Fajar Riyandanu)

Dr. Pesik further explained that essential medicines are dispatched monthly from Melonguane, the capital of Talaud Islands Regency. However, the distribution of these crucial pharmaceutical supplies is frequently mismatched with actual needs. Often, requested medications are out of stock, while unneeded items arrive repeatedly, exacerbating the logistical challenges of providing adequate care.

Managing emergency situations on Miangas presents a complex set of hurdles. Not all medical conditions can be effectively handled on the island. Referrals to larger hospitals, such as RSUD Mala in Kapal Melonguane, are fraught with uncertainty, depending on irregular ship or plane schedules, which are heavily influenced by unpredictable weather conditions.

Cefrilia detailed the precarious transport situation, noting that pioneer ships can take up to 10 days to make a stop, while flights are available only twice a week. Compounding the issue of medicine supply, the fundamental medical necessity of oxygen remains tragically unavailable at the facility.

“Once, we had a patient, and there was absolutely no oxygen at the Puskesmas. Fortunately, that patient had a pre-existing history of asthma and carried their own oxygen supply. This incident serves as just one stark example of the critical facilities lacking here,” she recounted, illustrating the severity of the infrastructure gaps.

Amidst these challenging circumstances, Dr. Cefrilia articulated a straightforward yet urgent plea: an increase in medical personnel, consistent availability of essential medicines, and a significant improvement of the existing facilities. For her, Miangas is not merely a peripheral territory but a vital frontline region that demands paramount attention from the central government.

“We earnestly request assistance from the central government to ensure that the facilities, infrastructure, and crucially, the medicines for this Puskesmas are adequately provided. Additionally, we implore you to augment our human resources,” Cefrilia appealed, emphasizing the community’s profound needs.

Puskesmas in Miangas (Katadata/Muhammad Fajar Riyandanu)

School Without an Indonesian Language Teacher

A short distance from the Puskesmas, Jems Meyer Edam oversees the island’s only high school, SMKN 2 Talaud. Established in 2004, the vocational school currently enrolls a modest 38 students, reflecting the island’s small population and the challenges of remote education.

SMKN 2 Talaud offers two vocational specializations: agribusiness in fisheries processing and accounting. Of the 13 students who graduated last year, seven chose to join the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), a small fraction pursued higher education, and the remainder sought whatever available employment they could find.

Behind these figures lie significant, often unseen, challenges. Jems explained that a staggering 80% of the teaching staff are recruited from outside the island. These educators desperately require official housing, which is currently in very limited supply, creating a substantial barrier to retaining qualified teachers.

“Some of our teachers are from as far as Makassar, Gorontalo, and Minahasa, assigned to teach here. Therefore, we are in urgent need of additional official residences to accommodate our dedicated teaching staff,” the Head of SMKN 2 Talaud articulated, underscoring the housing crisis.

Jems further elaborated on another core issue: the school has been entirely without an Indonesian language teacher for the past two years. This critical vacancy directly impedes the students’ development in fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, creating a significant educational gap.

The English teacher at the school highlighted more tangible needs specific to the agribusiness department, including essential practical tools such as meat grinders, mixers, and food packaging equipment. These tools are crucial for hands-on learning and practical application of their curriculum.

The aspiration for these vital tools extends beyond mere classroom utility; they represent a fundamental step towards establishing a functional teaching factory capable of transforming local marine products into valuable, value-added goods. Amidst these multifaceted challenges, SMKN 2 Talaud has proactively tackled the issue of internet access. The school independently initiated the purchase of Starlink satellite service, a self-reliant measure taken to overcome severe connectivity limitations.

“Last year, internet access was extremely difficult, as we only had Telkomsel Bakti. However, for the past two years, we have successfully implemented Starlink, significantly improving our connectivity,” Jems confirmed, highlighting their proactive solution.

Prabowo’s Promises

Confronted with these pressing limitations, President Prabowo Subianto endeavored to address various community needs with concrete commitments. He pledged a nationwide initiative to elevate the quality of public healthcare services by systematically repairing and upgrading all Puskesmas facilities across Indonesia.

In the crucial education sector, Prabowo promised a comprehensive reconstruction program for schools, slated to be completed within the next two to three years. This ambitious plan extends beyond mere structural repairs, aiming to equip classrooms with modern learning tools such as interactive smart boards, ensuring a more dynamic educational environment.

Beyond general infrastructure, Prabowo specifically announced the provision of a 15-gross-ton fishing vessel for the Miangas community, a direct aid to bolster local livelihoods. Furthermore, the government has ambitious plans to establish a dedicated fishermen’s village on Miangas Island, designed to support the local fishing industry comprehensively.

Prabowo detailed that this planned fishermen’s village will be equipped with essential facilities, including an ice factory, cold storage units, and a dedicated fuel station for fishermen. This significant program is slated to commence this year, with thousands of similar fishermen’s villages set to be inaugurated nationwide, marking a concerted effort to uplift fishing communities across the archipelago.

“The government is committed to massively improving the conditions for fishermen across all of Indonesia, starting this year. By December of this year, we will officially inaugurate 1,386 fishermen’s villages throughout the country,” Prabowo declared, emphasizing the scale of this national initiative.

Additionally, Prabowo pledged a substantial enhancement of Miangas’s communication network through the distribution of 250 Starlink units and 250 mobile phones to its residents, aiming to bridge the digital divide and improve connectivity for the islanders.

During his busy visit, there were moments of heartwarming informality. Regional and national songs were sung in unison, and Prabowo even joined in dancing with local children and residents. These spontaneous interactions presented a warm, human side of the President amidst a working visit otherwise heavily focused on addressing the numerous challenges in this vital border region.

Prabowo actively engaged with the schoolchildren, leading them in singing patriotic songs like “Maju Tak Gentar,” the local anthem “Pulau Miangas,” and popular tunes such as “Di sini Senang, Di sana Senang,” “Hymne Guru,” and “Kasih Ibu.”

The President also joined the local residents in singing beloved Indonesian classics, including “Nyiur Melambai,” “Sio Mama,” “Indonesia Pusaka,” “Si Patokaan,” “O Ina Ni Keke,” and “Tabola Bale,” fostering a strong sense of national unity and community spirit.

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party took a moment to immerse himself within the vibrant crowd of residents and children, joining them wholeheartedly in singing the spirited “Tabola Bale,” further cementing his connection with the local community.

For his crucial visit to Miangas, President Prabowo was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel TNI Teddy Indra Wijaya, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, signaling the cross-sectoral importance of the visit.

Further underscoring the significance of the delegation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of Public Works Doddy Hanggodo, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) General Tandyo Budi Revita, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force (KSAU) Marshal TNI Tonny Harjono were also present, demonstrating a unified governmental approach to the challenges faced by Miangas.