Urgency Preparing Health Disaster Plan in Magelang District after Merapi Eruption

Introduction: Mount Merapi erupted again in early 2021, impacting Magelang Regency. The Disaster Agency of Magelang District strengthened its early warning system and evacuation site after the largest eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010. Even though the data showed there were no fatalities in Magelang District, public health issues emerged at the refugee camp. Public health programs should always be available to refugees living in camp settings and settlements. The District Health Office (DHO) Magelang, as the coordinator of the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), needs to prepare a health disaster plan to manage public health services, coordination, collaboration, and communication. Methods: Training and mentoring in preparing the DHO Magelang disaster plan had been carried out for approximately eight months. During the mentoring process, many issues need to be prepared in health disaster planning, and in line with the Contingency Plan for Mount Merapi Eruption, which was arranged by the Disaster Agency of Magelang District. Results: The Disaster Agency of Magelang District has already arranged a contingency plan for the Merapi Eruption. However, this document does not detail the role of the health sectors, so DHO Magelang needs to prepare an operational planning document (DHO disaster plan). Preparing for health disaster planning is very helpful in mobilizing resources to meet the basic needs of victims in refugee camps. DHO explores strategies that can be implemented to improve the role and function of HEOC. Resource arrangements, coordination, roles and functions, procedures, and strategy planning were urgent to manage and integrate into disaster planning documents. Conclusion: The urgency of integrating the document contingency plan for the Merapi Eruption and the document DHO disaster plan lies in equalizing the scenarios used, coordinating the operation health cluster and arranging facilities, including evacuation sites, and preparing SOPs.