DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Siti Fatimah was deeply moved when she saw her 81-year-old mother, Kartini, receiving medical treatment at Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital (RSUD Haji Amri Tambunan). Deli Serdang Regent dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan had the elderly woman taken to the hospital after personally seeing her condition during a visit to her home in Bangun Rejo Village, Tanjung Morawa Subdistrict, on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Kartini is one of the beneficiaries of the government's uninhabitable housing rehabilitation program, known as Rumah Tidak Layak Huni (RTLH). The Deli Serdang Regency Government is currently renovating her house under the program. During the construction work, however, Kartini's health condition also drew the Regent's attention when he personally inspected the site.
Siti, who accompanied her mother at Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital, said she was relieved that Kartini had finally agreed to receive medical treatment. She also expressed her gratitude to the Deli Serdang Regent for helping her mother and taking her to the hospital.
"Alhamdulillah, my mother was brought here to the hospital. I am also grateful to the Regent for helping us. Hopefully, after staying here, she will feel better, recover, and be able to return to the house she has always wanted," Siti said at Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital.
According to Siti, Kartini had been suffering from health problems for around 20 years. However, her condition had progressively deteriorated over the past two years. The 81-year-old now spends most of her time lying down and is no longer able to sit or stand independently.
Kartini Finally Agrees to Medical Treatment
Kartini's most serious complaints have mainly affected her knees. When the Regent assessed the situation at the site, field personnel also identified a problem involving one of the elderly woman's toes. The affected area was initially cleaned before Kartini was taken to the hospital for further medical treatment.
Siti explained that the family had previously faced difficulties taking Kartini to a hospital. Her mother had been reluctant to undergo medical treatment at healthcare facilities.
The situation changed when the Deli Serdang Regent offered Kartini the opportunity to undergo an examination and receive treatment at the hospital. Kartini eventually agreed, after which the family immediately took her to Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital.
For Siti, the decision has brought new hope that her mother's health will improve. She hopes Kartini will recover soon and subsequently return to the house that is currently being renovated under the RTLH program.
"Hopefully, my mother will recover quickly and be able to return home. She really wants to see her renovated house completed," she said.
The hope of returning to her own home is one of the reasons the family continues to support Kartini during her hospital stay. The house is part of the regional government's efforts to provide more adequate housing for people in need.
The inspection of the RTLH program took place on Jalan Nusa Bangsa, Dusun VIII, Bangun Rejo Village, Tanjung Morawa Subdistrict. During his visit, the Regent not only checked the progress of the renovation work but also directly observed the condition of the beneficiary.
The Regent emphasized that the government must ensure that the RTLH program genuinely benefits people who meet the established criteria and are in urgent need of assistance. Accurate targeting is an important part of government programs so that assistance reaches those who need it most.
RESIDENTS' HEALTH CONDITIONS ALSO CONSIDERED: Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan emphasized that the government must not only consider the condition of homes belonging to RTLH beneficiaries but also the health conditions of the people living in them. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Desil 1 and 2 Given Priority
The Regent explained that people classified in Desil 1 and Desil 2 should receive priority in the allocation of RTLH assistance. Therefore, the government must regularly review and update the relevant data to ensure that assistance corresponds with the actual conditions of residents in the field.
Accurate and up-to-date data are essential for determining recipients of government assistance. Through regular validation and data updates, the government can reduce the risk of misallocation while ensuring that people with the most urgent needs receive the necessary attention.
Direct inspections in the field are also part of the government's efforts to gain a more comprehensive understanding of beneficiaries' circumstances. The RTLH program should not focus solely on the physical condition of a house but must also take into account the living conditions of the people who reside there.
This was evident in Kartini's case. While the government was working to improve the family's housing conditions through the program, another urgent need was identified at the same time: medical treatment.
The Regent instructed the relevant agencies not to stop at house renovations when other problems requiring immediate attention are discovered during field inspections. Findings from such visits, he said, must be followed up promptly so that government assistance can genuinely benefit the people it is intended to serve.
FAMILY GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE: Siti Fatimah thanked Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan for helping her mother, Kartini, and taking her to Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital for medical treatment. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Regent Calls for a Holistic Approach to Residents' Needs
The Regent emphasized that efforts to provide adequate housing must go hand in hand with healthcare for beneficiaries. The condition of people living in renovated homes should therefore also be part of the government's assessment when assistance programs are implemented.
"We must not only look at the house. We must also consider the condition of the people living in it. If someone needs medical assistance, we must act immediately," he stressed.
The statement also highlights the importance of ensuring that government programs are based on the actual needs of the community. The government should not only address physical housing problems but also respond to other needs identified during direct visits to residents.
Kartini's case is an example of how an urgent medical need was identified during an inspection of an RTLH project. After seeing that Kartini spent most of her time lying down and was unable to sit or stand, the Regent arranged for her to be taken to Haji Amri Tambunan Regional General Hospital for medical care.
Kartini's family now hopes that treatment at the hospital will improve her health. Siti also hopes that her mother will be able to return home after treatment and witness the completion of the house she has long hoped to see renovated through the RTLH program.
For the family, the house renovation and Kartini's medical treatment are closely connected. The renovated home is expected to provide her with greater safety and comfort, while medical treatment is intended to help improve her health.
The Regent's action also demonstrates the importance of government officials being present in communities that require assistance. Direct visits can reveal problems that may not always be visible in administrative data, allowing further measures to be taken according to the actual needs of residents.
The Deli Serdang Regency Government continues to regard the accurate targeting of assistance as a key component of the RTLH program. By prioritizing people in Desil 1 and Desil 2 and regularly validating and updating data, the government aims to ensure that assistance reaches those who genuinely need it.
Amid the renovation of Kartini's house, attention to her health condition has taken on additional significance. Government assistance, therefore, is not limited to improving housing conditions but also encompasses residents' basic needs whenever those needs are identified through direct visits to the community. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala