Former emergency hospital building from the independence war in Sendang Village, Krakitan, Bayat, Klaten Regency is on the brink of collapse. The main supporting pillar of the building could no longer hold the ceiling, so it must be supported with bamboo to strengthen the foundation.
Most people do not know that this building was one of the places where Indonesia’s struggle for independence took place. Local people named the emergency hospital as Geger Hospital. The hospital’s ration courier, Sumirin (90), said the building was used as an emergency hospital during the independence war.
The building also has links to Universitas Gadjah Mada as the first rector, dr. Sardjito, had played an important part in the hospital establishment. According to Surimin, Klaten was a military center so there were allies patrolling in the area at that time. Soldiers or people with severe injuries from the war were taken to the hospital to get treatment from dr. Sardjito and his fellow doctors. “Pak Sardjito was assisted by two nurses, Mas Trisono and Pak Giyanto at Geger Hospital,” said Sumirin.
Sutarmi (95), war witness from Klaten, explained that the emergency hospital was used to care for war casualties from cannon launched by the Dutch aircraft.
Until now, the former Geger Hospital building is still standing. Unfortunately, due to the lack of special maintenance, the historic building of Klaten people’s struggle is now at risk of collapse. This became the cause of the building’s poor condition.
Dwi Nur Rizkiansyah, videographer of Sardjito documentary film, witnessed the building’s miserable condition, especially the interior. “Window frames are falling apart, roofs are leaking, and woven bamboo plastering is no longer attached to the ceilings,” she said.
She hoped that government would pay more attention to the building because it played a major part in the history of Klaten people’s struggle. “I hope this building remains as a reminder of our history.”