Residents of Routa District who have long faced limited access to healthcare no longer need to worry. PT Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral (SCM) has recently introduced a Mobile Health Clinic, a free outreach service that regularly serves communities across villages surrounding its mining operations in Routa, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
The program was launched on 1 April 2026 at the Lalomerui Village Office. During the launch, which also marked its first service day, more than 60 residents attended to receive medical check-ups. The team consists of one doctor and two nurses, supported by a dedicated ambulance unit.
Services began with registration and initial screening by nurses, followed by consultations with the doctor. The clinic provides general health check-ups and treatment for minor illnesses. For many residents, the service is highly beneficial, considering they would otherwise need to travel up to two hours to reach the nearest public health center.
“We are greatly helped by this service,” said Ita Purnamasari, a resident of Lalomerui Village. “We hope these free health check-ups can continue to reach communities around the mining area.”
“This free healthcare service will greatly help maintain public health,” said Lalomerui Village Head, Taksir Unggahi. “It complements existing services that are located quite far from our village.”
The service also reached residents living on the outskirts of the village, including those in a nearby palm oil company housing area. They were transported by SCM’s Community Affairs team, as the village office remains relatively far from their homes.
Representing the Routa Sub-district Head, Syamsuri, a staff member of the Routa administration, expressed appreciation during the launch. “We fully appreciate this program,” he said. “Going forward, we hope SCM can continue to enhance its implementation.”
Since its launch, the service has reached several villages, including Puuwiwirano, Tanggola, Walandawe, and Pondoa in Wiwirano District, North Konawe Regency. The clinic operates daily from 08:00 to around 14:00 local time, depending on the number of patients.
This program is part of SCM’s Community Development and Empowerment Program (PPM) in the health sector. SCM is a subsidiary of PT Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk, part of the PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk group.
Through this free mobile healthcare service, SCM strengthens access to essential health services in a way that is closer, more regular, and sustainable for communities around its Routa operations.
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