PWMJATENG.COM, Yogyakarta – Muhammadiyah’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT Muhammadiyah) is one step closer to gaining verification from the World Health Organization (WHO) after successfully conducting a field exercise and intensive training with International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany from July 8 to 10, 2025, in Yogyakarta.
This activity marked the final stage of the Emergency Medical Teams Twinning, Training, and Transfer Knowledge (EMT TTT) program, which has been running since 2022. The program is spearheaded by the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) under the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, in collaboration with ISAR Germany and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). It also received full support from Lazismu (Muhammadiyah’s Institute for Alms, Infaq, and Sadaqah Management) and the Muhammadiyah Council for Public Health Development (MPKU).
According to Budi Setiawan, Chairperson of MDMC of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, this event represents a critical milestone for EMT Muhammadiyah. “These past few days are a vital moment for the Muhammadiyah medical team as they prepare to welcome verifiers from the WHO Western Pacific regional office and ISAR Germany,” he stated. He emphasized that the team demonstrated full preparedness, including setting up a field hospital, readiness of medical and logistical SOPs, and direct public service.
Logistical support was provided by Lazismu, which supplied essential equipment for the field hospital, while medical personnel such as doctors and nurses were mobilized from the Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah Hospital network under MPKU’s coordination.
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Over the past three years, EMT Muhammadiyah has actively participated in a series of online and offline trainings focused on capacity building, SOP comprehension, logistics management, and large-scale disaster response strategies in accordance with international standards.
During the Yogyakarta field simulation, EMT Muhammadiyah members carried out a comprehensive emergency drill. The team presented nine core preparedness elements to facilitators comprising representatives from WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WP RO), WHO Indonesia, ISAR Germany experts, and RKI. Also in attendance was Dr. Corona Rintawan, who has long been involved in supporting EMT Muhammadiyah’s development.
The drill highlighted the readiness of 35 EMT Muhammadiyah members who had been carefully selected and intensively trained. They successfully executed the setup of a field hospital and emergency medical services. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and logistics systems were presented comprehensively, aligning with WHO’s verification criteria.
The EMT TTT program emphasizes knowledge exchange, technical training, and institutional mentoring. The strategic partnership with ISAR Germany plays a crucial role in Muhammadiyah’s commitment to building resilience in disaster response—not only at the national level but also globally.
“Humanitarian spirit and professionalism are the foundational pillars of EMT Muhammadiyah,” Budi Setiawan stated. He added that this collaboration proves that faith-based organizations like Muhammadiyah can contribute meaningfully to the global emergency response system.
With the success of this simulation, EMT Muhammadiyah is now one step closer to receiving official classification from WHO. If successfully verified, EMT Muhammadiyah will become one of the few medical teams from Indonesia to be internationally recognized by WHO as a globally qualified EMT.
Ass Editor : Ahmad; Editor : M Taufiq Ulinuha