The Singapore Armed Forces- Tan Tock Seng Hospital (SAF-TTSH) Humanitarian Medical Relief team returned home from quake-struck Padang on Wednesday afternoon to cheers and greetings from fellow colleagues and families.

When the strong earthquake jolted Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia, the TTSH Trauma Service was approached by the SAF Medical Corps to form a joint relief mission team to provide humanitarian aid. Within 24-hours, a surgical team comprising of Dr Chiu Ming Terk (Senior Consultant Trauma Surgeon), Dr Ong Kah Chuan (Consultant, Anaesthetist), Dr Muhd Farhan (Orthopaedic Registrar), SSN Emanuel Michael (Ortho Scrub Nurse), NM Wee Cheng Hoon (GS OT), NM Poon Moi Tan (SICU NM) and SSN Ina Roziana (Ward 9A), was assembled.

During the 10-day mission, the team was deployed at Pariaman Hospital, located 60km away from Padang. Together with their SAF counterparts, they performed a total of 91 surgeries and attended to other countless medical emergencies.

Eight days into the mission, a package containing well-wishes and comfort food from the volunteers’ families and the TTSH Trauma Service arrived and boosted the morale of the team.

During the deployment, TTSH Pharmacy, MMD, OT Services, Emergency Planning and the Trauma Service worked relentlessly to supply the team with medical supplies and pharmaceutical requirements.

Said Dr Chiu, "Working in less than favourable conditions due to the devastation of the earthquake, we still managed to help clear the backlog of injured cases that required surgery. I am happy that the team and I were able to provide care to our neighbours in times like this."