Nestapa Aldelia, Burned at School, Bullied by Friends, and Died of Malnutrition

Aldelia Rahma's family is waiting for justice for the fire that befell her and health services that are allegedly not optimal.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Murniati (48, right), the mother, shows a photo of her late daughter, Aldelia Rahma, during her kindergarten graduation at her home in Nagari III Koto Aur Malintang, IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Friday (24/5/2024).

An atmosphere of sorrow still surrounds the family home of the deceased Aldelia Rahma (10) in Nagari III Koto Aur Malintang, IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, Friday (24/5/2024) afternoon. Four bouquets of flowers are displayed on the side of the road. The black mourning cloth in front of the house occasionally waved in the wind.

"Aldelia was a cheerful child, active in play. Now she's no longer with us," said Murniati (48), Aldelia's mother, with a gloomy face. As a single parent to her five children, she doesn't speak much. The story of the deceased is mostly told by Media Madona (34), Aldelia's cousin.

Aldelia passed away while undergoing treatment at Dr. M Djamil Central General Hospital in Padang city on Tuesday afternoon, May 21, 2024. The fourth-grade elementary school student had endured the suffering of burns on her body for nearly three months.

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According to Madona, a disaster struck Aldelia during a physical education class at SD Negeri 10 IV Koto Aur Malintang on Wednesday (February 28th, 2024) morning. At that time, the homeroom teacher asked all fourth-grade students to work together and burn the garbage because there would be a teacher work group activity the next day.

Because the fire that was burning the garbage behind the school was not very strong, a friend of Aldelia then took a bottle of oil fuel from a mineral water bottle. However, a male student with the initials R suddenly grabbed the oil bottle and sprayed it on Aldelia.

"There was a strong wind, the fire hit Aldelia, she burned everything, from chest to toe. "His friends ran away because they were afraid," said Madona.

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One of the teachers asked him to roll on the ground to put out the fire. A few moments later, the sports teacher came and put out the fire with his shirt. Aldelia was rushed to the nearest community health center, then referred to the Lubuk Basung Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Agam Regency, Sumbar.

“The doctor at Lubuk Basung Hospital said that the burn was 85 percent, from the chest down. They were unable to handle it, so she was eventually referred to a Type A hospital, Dr. M Djamil Regional General Hospital,” said Madona. Meanwhile, Dr. M Djamil Hospital stated that Aldelia's burn was 31 percent.

Hospital services

Aldelia received treatment at RSUP Dr. M. Djamil for 35 days. However, despite her wounds not fully healed, the fourth child out of five siblings was discharged for outpatient care.

"I was shocked when the ambulance arrived at the house. The wounds were still wet, like a newly skinned goat, and he was told to go home," said Madona, who used to work as a healthcare worker in a community health center, with disappointment.

According to Madona, Aldelia's discharge from the hospital worsened her condition. This is because the equipment and care capabilities at home are very limited. Her burn injury does not improve and symptoms of malnutrition are starting to appear.

During the visit to Dr. M Djamil Hospital on April 8th, Madonna asked why Aldelia was discharged. However, the doctor stated that the discharge was in accordance with the procedure. Less than a week after the visit, Aldelia's condition deteriorated.

On April 15, she was admitted again to RSUP Dr M Djamil and discharged ten days later. The patient discharge summary from RSUP stated that Aldelia suffered from 31 percent burns. She also experienced several additional diseases, namely malnutrition, anemia, and hypokalemia.

Also read: Student bullying is increasingly worrying

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Madona (34) from the media displayed a photo of her late cousin, Aldelia Rahma (left), with her son at Aldelia's home in Nagari III Koto Aur Malintang, IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Friday (24/5/2024).

The family is also disappointed with the handling at the RSUP Dr M Djamil. "Four days after returning, we have to go for another check-up in Padang. Why were we sent home if we still have to come back for check-ups? We kept going back and forth from home to Padang, with a three-hour journey each time," said Madona.

Less than a week later, Aldelia's condition deteriorated again. The viral news about Aldelia's malnutrition was brought to the attention of Padang Pariaman Regent, Suhatri Bur. The regent visited Aldelia's home on May 5th and then took her to receive medical treatment at Padang Pariaman Regional Hospital.

I was shocked when the ambulance arrived at the house. The wound was still wet, like a goat that had just been skinned, so he was told to go home.

For a week at the Padang Pariaman Regional General Hospital, Aldelia was referred back to Dr. M Djamil Teaching Hospital for plastic surgery on May 14. However, her condition did not improve. The day before she passed away, the surgeon consulted with a pediatrician to move Aldelia to the pediatric ward.

"The pediatrician refused. He said, 'Patients like this are assigned to me. Refuse, refuse. I cannot treat them.' That was said in front of the family," said Madona. Aldelia then passed away on May 21 at 3:30 pm.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Anti-bullying banners installed at SMAN 70, Jakarta, Tuesday (27/2/2024).

Bullying

Apart from feeling inadequately served by the hospital, Aldelia's family also regretted the school's attitude. During the fire incident, the school even blamed Aldelia.

From the teacher's version of the story, Madona said that the male students were asked to burn the trash, while the female students cleaned the classroom. The teacher blamed Aldelia for joining the male students in burning the trash behind the school.

"The class teacher asked, 'Why did you go with the male students alone? What's your business there, while the female students are in class?' However, all students, both male and female, participated in the cleanup, including burning the trash," said Madona.

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Madona also mentioned that during home care, Aldelia once shared that a student with the initials R, who sprayed oil, often bullied her at school. The cheerful girl was frequently punched in the face, kicked, and slapped by the male student.

The treatment of R was once reported by Aldelia to a teacher. However, instead of reprimanding R, according to Madona, the teacher actually blamed Aldelia. The teacher said, "You are a woman, why are you playing with a man?"

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The atmosphere at SD Negeri 10 IV Koto Aur Malintang School, where Aldelia Rahma (10), who has passed away, was burned, in IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra Province, on Friday (May 24, 2024).

Regarding the Aldelia burning incident, the family had reported the perpetrator and the school to the Padang Pariaman Police the day before the victim died. The school was considered negligent in the fire incident and bullying that Aldelia experienced.

"We hope our report will be followed up on. We can't afford to have another Aldelia Aldelia. Otherwise, there will be no deterrent effect," said Madona.

The family also plans to report the Regional General Hospital (RSUP) Dr. M Djamil to the police for the suboptimal service received by Aldelia. Aldelia is a third-class participant of the government-funded Health Insurance Administration (BPJS Kesehatan).

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"Is it appropriate for the poor to die? Are only the rich allowed to live? That is the last referral hospital in West Sumatra. Where else can we seek treatment if the care there is not effective?" said Madona.

The Chief of Criminal Investigation Unit of Pariaman Police Resort, Inspector Rinto Alwi, stated that the police have received a report from Aldelia's family. Currently, the case is in the process of investigation.

"We have asked the family for information. "We will examine other witnesses next week," he said.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

A black cloth and flower arrangement were placed in front of the house of the late Aldelia Rahma (10) in Nagari III Koto Aur Malintang, IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra on Friday (5/24/2024).

Rinto mentioned that there is a potential of negligence by the school in this case. "We will seek criminal accountability, asking for statements from the school and the perpetrator," he said.

According to Rinto, during a waste-burning activity by the students, the sports teacher was cleaning the back part of the restroom while the homeroom teacher was cleaning the inside of the restroom. "There is supervision from the teachers, but it is lacking," he said.

Did this poor man deserve to die? Are only rich people allowed to live?

School response

The head of SD Negeri 10 IV Koto Aur Malintang, Asmaniar, did not comment much on the incident at her school. She admitted that she did not know exactly what had happened to Aldelia. At the time, she was in her office with an operator making some announcements.

Asmaniar continued, the communal activity at around 9:00 was initiated by the class teacher and sports teacher, not on his orders. The teachers asked the students to pick up trash because there will be a KKG activity the next day.

Shortly after, Asmaniar heard people making a commotion. She did not witness the incident and instead felt weak due to experiencing a fire trauma in her home.

"As I did not witness it directly, it is better to contact the person involved to avoid any misunderstandings," she said. Asmaniar provided the phone number of the sports teacher who knew about the incident, but the number could not be reached.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The atmosphere in the yard of the late Aldelia Rahma's (10) house in Nagari III Koto Aur Malintang, IV Koto Aur Malintang District, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Friday (24/5/2024).

Padang Pariaman Secretary Rudi Repenaldi Rilis said that when this case emerged, the Padang Pariaman Department of Education had already given a strong warning to the head of State Elementary School 10 IV Koto Aur Malintang. "The department issued a warning," he said.

The education department, said Rudi, is currently conducting an evaluation. If it is proven that there is an element of negligence on the part of the school, the department will impose sanctions.

In addition, the Regent of Padang Pariaman has issued a circular letter to schools that are under the jurisdiction of the district government. One of the points in the circular letter is that schools must fully monitor the activities of students and other activities in the schools.

Hospital information

The Director of Medical Services and Nursing at Dr. M Djamil Hospital, Bestari Jaka Budiman, stated that the healthcare provided to the deceased Aldelia was in accordance with procedures.

In a press statement video sent by the Public Relations of RSUP Dr M Djamil, Bestari explained that Aldelia had already been treated three times at RSUP. During the first treatment, which lasted about five weeks, the patient underwent surgery four times.

"Due to its unsuitable condition for treatment and becoming infected, the hospital allowed the patient to be discharged based on the agreement between the pediatrician and plastic surgeon with the requirement of follow-up visits to the clinic and teaching on wound care, dietary patterns, and other matters," said Bestari.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The atmosphere at Dr M Djamil Hospital Padang, West Sumatra, Friday (9/7/2021).

During the journey, according to Bestari, the patient's condition worsened when receiving outpatient care in their village. Four weeks later, the patient returned to the Emergency Room of Dr M Djamil Central Hospital with a fairly severe condition.

Aldelia was treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), then moved to the high care unit (HCU) and the chronic care unit. His condition also improved. During a week in the plastic surgery room, the wound improved. On April 25, Aldelia was sent home.

"So, (sent home because) we just have to wait until the treatment is sufficient in the polyclinic. Eating is normal, wound healing is in progress. However, a 31 percent burn injury is indeed quite serious for a child," said Bestari.

The head of the medical team responsible for Aldelia's patients at Dr. M Djamil Regional General Hospital, Deddy Saputra, explained that from the beginning, Aldelia's condition was very serious because she had extensive wounds that were easily contaminated by bacteria.

“The level of infection makes the patient's condition weaker and weaker over time. "We have anticipated this by providing the best medicine for children," he said.

In addition, Deddy added that the condition of patients who are children means that their nutritional needs are greater compared to adults. Meanwhile, the severe condition experienced by the patient prevents those needs from being fulfilled.

"The large infection and nutritional needs are not balanced by the patient's condition, even though we have administered all types of medication, fluids, and nutrients. The condition is so severe that it could lead to organ failure. Ultimately, death may occur," he said.

Regarding the discharge of patients during the first treatment, Deddy said it was in accordance with procedures and through evaluation. At the time, the patient's wound condition had improved, so it was safe to discharge them.

"At that time, we just had to wait for the healing process, which could be done through outpatient treatment at the clinic. We also provided education to the family about care during outpatient treatment," he said.